VITA 34 International AG: VITA 34 International exceeds forecasted profit
VITA 34 International AG / Final Results Release of an Ad hoc announcement according to § 15 WpHG, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- * Sales of EUR 15.0 million meet revised forecast * EBIT of EUR -2.3 million better than anticipated * Storage breaks records Leipzig, February 20, 2009 - VITA 34 International AG (ISIN DE000A0BL849), the parent company of the leading umbilical cord blood bank in the German-speaking countries VITA 34, achieved a new record for umbilical cord blood stored for the 2008 financial year. And that in spite of the difficult economic situation. Last year VITA 34 stored 11,020 units - a 5.4 percent increase compared to the previous year. This is the highest figure in the company's ten year history. The successful cooperation with our Spanish partner Secuvita made a significant contribution towards spurring growth. Sales for the 2008 financial year dropped to EUR 15.0 million and therefore remained within the range of July's revised forecast. In the previous year, sales amounted to EUR 15.4 million. VITA 34 slightly exceeded its profit forecast. We anticipated negative EBIT of EUR -2.5 million as a result of the scheduled increase in marketing and sales expenditure, however EBIT fared somewhat better, totalling EUR -2.3 million. This is attributable to the realignment of the marketing and sales strategy in mid-2008 in response to the changing operating environment. EBIT for the previous year amounted to EUR -0.8 million, while net result for 2008 totalled EUR -1.7 million (previous year: EUR -1.2 million). With equity of EUR 18.1 million and an equity ratio of 60 percent, VITA 34 had sound balance sheet ratios at the end of 2008. We expect the company to break even in the 2009 financial year, posting positive EBIT. In addition to continuing to develop the German market, VITA 34 is also planning cautious international expansion. The Annual Report will be available for download from 27 February 2009 at www.vita34.de. Press/ Investor Relations: Axel Mühlhaus Dr. Sönke Knop edicto GmbH Zeißelstraße 19 D-60318 Frankfurt Tel.:+49 (069) 90550550 Fax: +49 (069) 90550577 eMail: vita34@edicto.de 20.02.2009 Financial News transmitted by DGAP ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Issuer: VITA 34 International AG Deutscher Platz 5a 04103 Leipzig Deutschland Phone: +49(0341)48792-40 Fax: +49(0341)48792-39 E-mail: info@vita34.de Internet: www.vita34.de ISIN: DE000A0BL849 WKN: A0BL84 Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, München, Stuttgart End of News DGAP News-Service ---------------------------------------------------------------------------