VITA 34 AG: VITA 34 presents figures for the 1st half-year 2012
VITA 34 AG / Key word(s): Half Year Results 19.07.2012 08:33 Dissemination 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- VITA 34 AG: VITA 34 presents figures for the 1st half-year 2012 - Revenue and storages in period under review below last year's level - Increase in operating result in 1st half-year 2012 - Conclusion of cooperation in Mexico and development of further markets planned Leipzig, 19 July 2012 - VITA 34 AG (ISIN DE000A0BL849), the oldest private umbilical cord blood bank in the German-speaking countries, has registered a restrained business development in the first six months of 2012. While the operating result could be increased, the number of storages and the revenue remained below the previous year's values. The central key figure - the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) - was increased to 27,000 Euro from the negative amount of 160,000 Euro last year. The earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) have slightly increased from EUR -0.63 million to EUR -0.48 million. The number of storages of umbilical cord blood preparations reduced from 4,477 one year ago to 3,718 due to a downward trend on the core markets Germany and Spain. The revenue amounted to approximately EUR 6.6 million compared to approximately EUR 7.8 million in the first half-year of 2011. The group result of approximately EUR -0.4 million was still negative and thus on the level of the same period of last year. We have already initiated measures to reach a positive business development in the future and to improve the profitability, including the reduction of expenses and the expansion of international business. A cooperation agreement in Mexico has already been concluded. VITA 34 supports the company CryoLifeCells in setting up its own umbilical cord blood bank in Mexico and provides the necessary know-how and the patented decentralized collection system for this purpose. VITA 34 wants to further concentrate on the international activities and thus develop new markets during the business year 2012. The corporation already negotiates with potential partners, among others in Chile. The cooperations in Serbia and Mexico as well as the acquisition of the BioPlanta GmbH also should have a positive effect on the business of VITA 34. It is furthermore intended to continue reducing expenses in the course of the year. From today's perspective, it is clear that, due to the regression of storages in Spain and in Germany, the sales target that has been forecast so far for this business year cannot be reached anymore, so that a revenue below the previous year's value has to be expected. As regards the total year 2012, the increasingly ambitious goal is to moderately improve the operating result (EBITDA) compared to the previous year. The complete mid-year report including an updated forecast will be published on 19 July 2012 and available for download at www.vita34group.de. Press/Investor Relations: Axel Mühlhaus Peggy Kropmanns edicto GmbH Eschersheimer Landstr. 42-44 D-60322 Frankfurt Phone: +49 (069) 90550550 Fax: +49 (069) 90550577 E-mail: vita34@edicto.de 19.07.2012 DGAP's Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Company: VITA 34 AG Deutscher Platz 5a 04103 Leipzig Germany 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 Announcement DGAP News-Service ---------------------------------------------------------------------------