News

Analytik Jena with Significant Sales Increase after First Half of Financial Year

• Earnings influenced by natural disaster in Japan and weak US dollar 
• Outlook for financial year: sales and earnings increase

Jena (Germany), May 12, 2011 — Analytik Jena AG (Prime Standard: AJA, ISIN: DE0005213508) again significantly increased its sales. After six months, the Group generated sales of EUR 44.5 m, up 9.0 % on the previous year. This was announced today by the manufacturer of analytical measuring technology, life science instruments and optoelectronics at the presentation of the semi-annual figures in Jena.

Sales Development and Segments

The sales increase was generated in all three business units, but mostly came from Analytical Instrumentation. In its core business Analytik Jena posted group-wide EUR 27.7 m (previous year: EUR 24.4 m) after six months, 13.7 % more than in the first half of 2009/2010. Analytical Instrumentation continued to benefit from the strong market position in Asia and has thus again increased incoming orders on these key markets. After a slight decline in the first quarter, the growth division Life Science with sales of EUR 14.3 m (previous year: EUR 14.0 m) after six months posted a sales increase of 2.2 % as against the previous year. Developments proved stable in the consumer division of Optics, which saw growth of 1.0 % on the previous year with sales of EUR 2.4 m (previous year: EUR 2.4 m).

Earnings

Overall, Analytik Jena’s earnings were down on the previous year’s level. EBITDA amounted to EUR 4.5 m (previous year: EUR 4.7 m), therefore down 5.5 %. EBIT was also lower on account of the strong rise in selling and administrative expenses compared to sales and amounted to EUR 2.6 m (previous year: EUR 3.0 m). The Company achieved an EBIT margin of 5.9 %. While Analytik Jena’s pre-tax earnings in the previous year had benefited from the favorable currency situation, this year they were impacted by the development of the US dollar and the Japanese yen, and were therefore down by 59.9 %. Earnings before taxes (EBT) amounted to EUR 1.1 m (previous year: EUR 2.8 m).

In the reporting period, Analytik Jena achieved a total net profit of EUR 0.8 m (previous year: EUR 2.0 m), 59.9 % less than in the previous year. This is equal to earnings per share of EUR 0.13 (previous year: EUR 0.37).

Changes in Statement of Financial Position

The Group’s total assets fell slightly by 0.2 % from EUR 83.6 m (September 30, 2010) to EUR 83.4 m as of March 31, 2011. In the reporting period, Analytik Jena reported equity of EUR 40.4 m (September 30, 2010: EUR 39.0 m). This corresponds to an equity ratio of 48.4 %. The Group’s cash and cash equivalents amounted to EUR 8.2 m as of the end of the reporting period.

Human Resources

As at the balance sheet date as of March 31, 2011, the Group employed 800 staff, of which 39 trainees (previous year: 776 employees, including 45 trainees).

Outlook

The Executive Board of Analytik Jena is projecting sales of around EUR 86.0 m to EUR 89.0 m and EBIT of between EUR 4.5 m and EUR 5.5 m for the current financial year. "We aim for further growth in all three divisions. The biggest challenge will be compensating for the losses in Japan. Furthermore, the effects of the weak US dollar also have to be countered", says Klaus Berka, CEO of Analytik Jena AG.

Looking at the individual divisions, the Company is forecasting a stable performance in its core area of Analytical Instrumentation in the second half of 2010/2011 as well. The Life Science segment is expected to enjoy growing market success due to the new real-time PCR products coupled with stable profitable developments at the CyBio and Biometra subsidiaries. The anticipated stabilization of Optics business will be strengthened by significantly higher incoming orders from the IWA trade fair at the start of March, which will be recognized in sales over the course of the financial year.

The full financial report can be accessed at http://berichte.analytik-jena.de/6-MonthReport_1011.pdf.