30.10.2003 – 13:56

Sartorius AG

euro adhoc: Sartorius AG
Group sales revenue declined in the first nine months of 2003 essentially due to the impact of foreign exchange rates
Positive third-quarter earnings (EBIT)
Cash flow significantly increased and debt continued to decrease /

  Disclosure announcement transmitted by euro adhoc.
  The issuer is responsible for the content of this announcement.

During the first nine months of fiscal 2003, Sartorius Group sales
revenue fell 6.5% to 324.8 million euros (previous year: 347.3
million euros). Adjusted for the impact of foreign currencies, Group
sales revenue nearly reached last year’s level. The Biotechnology
Division posted a 9.4% drop in sales revenues (adjusted for the
impact of foreign currencies: -3.2%) to 166.1 million euros from
183.4 million euros the year before. Sales revenue of the
Mechatronics Division slipped 3.2% (adjusted for the impact of
foreign currencies: +2.6%) to 158.7 million euros from 163.9 million
euros a year ago. Group order intake dropped 8.5% to 318.6 million
euros from 348.2 million euros reported a year ago. Order intake for
the Biotechnology Division fell from 179.3 million euros to 160.7
million euros (-10.4%); that of the Mechatronics Division slipped
from 168.9 million euros to 157.9 million euros (-6.5%).

In the third quarter, provisions of approx. 4 million euros that we
set up in connection with the impending insolvency of our minority
stake Diessel GmbH & Co. KG had a negative impact on earnings in
particular. For this reason, third-quarter Group earnings (EBIT) at
1.4 million euros are indeed still positive, but are below the
previous period’s figure of 4.9 million euros. In the nine-month
reporting period, EBIT slid from 1.4 million euros to -0.7 million
euros; EBITDA fell from 19.6 million euros to 16.6 million euros.

As a result of our consolidation drive, we significantly increased
net cash flow in the first nine months from 1.6 million euros posted
for the year-earlier period to 26.6 million euros. Therefore, we were
able to reduce our net debt from 133.1 million euros to 110.7 million
euros (reporting date of December 31, 2002, compared with September
30, 2003).

For both the Biotechnology and Mechatronics Divisions, we expect that
demand will pick up significantly by year-end. However, in view of
the restraint seen so far in the development of order intake and
contrary to our former forecast, we no longer assume that we can earn
a good 10% higher sales revenue in the second half over that of the
first half. Considering our earnings, we anticipate that in the last
three months, we will have the best quarter of fiscal 2003. However,
because of the negative impact on earnings accumulated so far during
the fiscal year, it will be extremely difficult to increase EBIT
against that of the previous year (13.5 million euros), as planned.

As of this afternoon you will find our complete Interim Report at
www.sartorius.com.

end of announcement        euro adhoc 30.10.2003

Further inquiry note:

Rainer Lehmann

Phone +49(0)551.308.4034
Fax +49(0)551.308.3153
rainer.lehmann@sartorius.com
www.sartorius.com

Branche: Biotechnology
ISIN: DE0007165607
WKN: 716560
Index: CDAX, Prime All Share, Prime Standard, Technologie All Share
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