Biotest AG: Payout of dividends increased, forecast improved
Biotest AG / AGM/EGM
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Biotest: Payout of dividends increased, forecast improved
· General meeting finalises fifth dividend increase in a row
· Managing Board raises forecast considerably for the current year
· Goals for 2008: Turnover of EUR 420 million, 20% EBIT growth
Dreieich, May 27, 2008. At today's general meeting of Biotest AG in
Frankfurt/Main, shareholders approved of the suggestion by the Managing
Board to distribute a dividend of EUR 0.30 for each ordinary share and EUR
0.36 for each preference share for the 2007 financial year. This marked the
fifth time in a row that Biotest has increased the dividend payout.
In his speech at the general meeting, the chairman of the Managing Board,
Prof. Gregor Schulz, considerably raised the company's forecast for
turnover and profit in the current year. The Managing Board now expects
turnover of EUR 420 million in 2008, following EUR 326.4 million in the
previous year. Until now the target had been EUR 400 million. According to
the management’s estimate, earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) will be
20% higher than in the previous year (earlier forecast: + 10%). Based on
the volumes predicted, this results in an anticipated EBIT margin of
approximately 11%, which roughly corresponds to the value for the year
2007.
'The profitable growth and the very good outlook for our company show that
the extensive investments into the future of the Biotest Group are paying
off,' Prof. Schulz commented. In particular the fact that the EBIT margin
of the previous year could be reached again in 2008 despite expenditures
for purchasing and integration of the plasma protein business in the USA is
evidence in favour of the value-oriented growth strategy, according to him.
'Through the dividends, which have been raised again, and the impressive
development of the stock price in the preceding months, the shareholders
receive a stake in the company's success.'
Disclaimer
This document contains future-oriented statements regarding macroeconomic
development as well as the business outlook, profitability, financial
position and asset situation of Biotest AG and its subsidiaries. These
statements are based on the current plans, estimates, forecasts and
expectations of the company and therefore are subject to risks and elements
of uncertainty, which could lead to significant deviation from the expected
development in the actual results. The future-oriented statements are only
valid at the time of publication. Biotest does not intend to update the
future-oriented statements and does not assume any responsibility for doing
this.
About Biotest
Biotest is a pharmaceutical, biotherapeutic and diagnostics company
involved in research and production, specialising in the areas of
application of immunology and hematology. In the Pharmaceutical segment
Biotest develops and markets immunoglobulin, coagulation factors and
albumins that are produced from human blood plasma and can be used to treat
diseases of the immune system and the hematopoietic system. In the
Biotherapeutic segment Biotest promotes the clinical development of
monoclonal antibodies, including those used to treat rheumatism and
leukaemia. The Diagnostics segment includes reagents and systems for
microbiology that are primarily used for hygiene monitoring, as well as for
immunologic diagnostics that, for example, can be applied in blood
transfusions and transplants. Biotest employees approximately 1800 people
worldwide. Shares of Biotest AG are listed on the SDAX of the Deutsche
Börse.
Biotest AG, Landsteinerstr. 5, D-63303 Dreieich, Germany, www.biotest.de
Dr. Michael Ramroth
Tel.: +49 (0) 6103 801-338
Fax: +49 (0) 6103 801-347
E-mail: michael_ramroth@biotest.de
WKN, ISIN Common shares: 522720, DE0005227201
WKN, ISIN Preferred shares: 522723, DE0005227235
Quoted: Prime Standard/Amtlicher Handel (official trading)
Frankfurt, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Stuttgart
27.05.2008 Financial News transmitted by DGAP
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Language: English
Issuer: Biotest AG
Landsteinerstraße 5
63303 Dreieich
Deutschland
Phone: 0 61 03 - 8 01-0
Fax: 0 61 03 - 8 01-8 80
E-mail: investor_relations@biotest.de
Internet: http://www.biotest.de
ISIN: DE0005227201, DE0005227235
WKN: 522720, 522723
Indices: SDAX
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr
in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Stuttgart
End of News DGAP News-Service
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