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Biotest AG: Biotest continues to show a sales increase


Biotest AG / Key word(s): Quarter Results

07.05.2014 / 11:00



PRESS RELEASE

Biotest continues to show a sales increase

- Sales at EUR 122.2 million (+2.9%)

- Progress in CapEx program "Biotest Next Level"

- Positive development in R&D projects


Dreieich,7 May 2014. The Biotest Group was again able to increase sales in the first three months of the 2014 financial year. The Group generated revenues of EUR 122.2 million in the period under review compared to EUR 118.7 million in the same period in the previous year. This represents an increase of 2.9 %. Significant increases in sales (+ 11.5 %) were achieved in the rest of Europe in particular. The increase in Germany was more moderate at 1.8 %.

The Biotest Group also continued to expand its research and development activities in the first quarter of 2014. Biotest was able to make significant progress in various studies and clinical development during the first three months of the current financial year. In the first quarter 2014 the first patient was included as part of the phase I/II clinical trial of indatuximab ravtansine (BT-062) in solid tumours. Patients with triple-negative metastatic breast cancer (these tumours do not respond to treatment with oestrogen-, progesterone- or HER2- (Herceptin-2 receptors) based therapy) as well as patients with invasive bladder cancer are to be treated in this monotherapy study and the product is tested for its efficacy and tolerability.
The Tcell REgulating Arthritis Trial 2b (TREAT 2b) (phase IIb clinical trial, which has started end of 2013 to further develop the monoclonal antibody tregalizumab (BT-061), is progressing on schedule. The study protocol has been approved in 14 countries in the meantime. Over 70 clinical centers are participating in the study so that more than half of the planned 304 patients have already been included in the study.

Costs increased considerably in this area as a result of the significant expansion of research and development work. Research and development costs amounted to EUR 17.2 million for the first quarter of 2014 compared to EUR 14.5 million in the comparable period in 2013.
Higher project costs with respect to R&D as well as start-up costs for "Biotest Next Level" resulted in a reduction in operating profit (EBIT). An EBIT of EUR 10.7 million was generated for the first three months of 2014 compared to EUR 11.8 million for the same period in the previous year. Without the recall of batches of Bivigam(R) sales and earnings would have been higher. As stated in the Annual Report, the cost of the recall was already accounted in 2013 fiscal year. However, the recall had a negative impact on sales in the first quarter 2014. This effect will affect the entire financial year as well.

Nevertheless, we anticipate very strong sales in tender business in the second quarter, which will have a positive effect on sales and profit.

The financial result amounted to EUR - 2.9 million (same period in the previous year: EUR - 0.8 million). The capital measures successfully implemented in the past financial year were particularly evident in this regard. The fully placed loan note of EUR 210.0 million, amongst other things, gave rise to an increase in interest bearing liabilities.
This resulted in earnings before taxes (EBT) of EUR 7.8 million for the Biotest Group compared to EUR 11.0 million in the same period in the previous year. Earnings after taxes (EAT) also decreased from EUR 7.0 million to EUR 5.0 million. Earnings per share were - also as a result of the increased number of shares by way of the capital increase - EUR 0.38

Outlook:
For the reasons mentioned above, the Management Board considers the forecasted increase of both sales and operating profit (EBIT) by approximately 10 % in the current fiscal year 2014 as challenging, but still realistic. The business development of the Biotest Group for the 2014 financial year will continue to be judged positively.

The three-months report is available on the company's website at http://www.biotest.de/ww/de/pub/investor_relations/publikationen/quartalsberichte.cfm

Disclaimer

This document contains forward-looking statements on overall economic development as well as on the business, earnings, financial and assets position of Biotest AG and its subsidiaries. These statements are based on current plans, estimates, forecasts and expectations of the company and are thus subject to risks and elements of uncertainty that could result in significant deviation of actual developments from expected developments. The forward-looking statements are only valid at the time of publication. Biotest does not intend to update the forward-looking statements and assumes no obligation to do so.

About Biotest

Biotest is a provider of plasma proteins and biological drugs. With a value added chain that extends from pre-clinical and clinical development to worldwide sales, Biotest has specialised primarily in the areas of clinical immunology, haematology and intensive medicine. Biotest develops and markets immunoglobulins, coagulation factors and albumins based on human blood plasma. These are used for diseases of the immune and haematopoietic systems. In addition Biotest develops monoclonal antibodies in the indications of rheumatoid arthritis and cancer of plasma cells, which are produced by recombinant technologies. Biotest has more than 2.000 employees worldwide. The preference shares of Biotest AG are listed in the SDAX on the Frankfurt stock exchange.

Biotest AG, Landsteinerstr. 5, 63303 Dreieich, www.biotest.de
Dr. Monika Buttkereit
tel.: +49 (0) 6103 801-4406,
e-mail: investor_relations@biotest.de
fax: +49 (0) 6103 801-347

Securities' ID No., ISIN ordinary shares: 522720, DE0005227201
Securities' ID No., ISIN preference shares: 522723, DE0005227235
Listing: Prime Standard
Open Market: Berlin-Bremen, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hannover, München, Stuttgart



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266750  07.05.2014