21.02.2005 – 11:23

Sartorius AG

euro adhoc: Sartorius AG
other
Group earnings (EBIT) more than doubled
Sales revenue up 5.7%
Currency-adjusted sales revenue +8.5%
Net cash flow substantially positive
Positive earnings trend expected to continue in 2005

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

21.02.2005

In fiscal 2004, the Sartorius Group more than doubled its earnings
before interest and taxes (EBIT) from EUR14.7 million to EUR32.5
million.  For the Biotechnology Division, EBIT was EUR17.5 million
(previous year: EUR7.6 million); for the Mechatronics Division,
EUR15.0 million (EUR7.1 million).  Earnings before interest, taxes,
depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) reached EUR54.8 million.  This
corresponds to an increase of 45.3% over the year-earlier figure of
EUR37.7 million.  Earnings per share jumped from EUR0.26 to EUR0.89.

Group sales revenue rose 5.7% to EUR467.6 million from EUR442.3
million a year ago; currency-adjusted, sales revenue was up 8.5%. 
Sales revenue for the Biotechnology Division went up 5.4% to EUR239.4
million (EUR227.1 million).  Based on constant foreign exchange
rates, the division’s sales revenue grew 8.4%.  The Mechatronics
Division achieved an increase in sales revenue of 6.1% to EUR228.1
million (EUR215.1 million); currency-adjusted sales revenue for this
division rose 8.5%.

The substantially positive net cash flow of EUR36.3 million (EUR33.9
million) was primarily used to reduce net debt by EUR26.1 million to
EUR78.9 million.

The Executive Board will suggest to the Supervisory Board to pay
significantly higher dividends in order to enable shareholders to
participate in the Group’s positive business development. In 2003,
dividends were EUR0.26 per preference share and EUR0.24 per ordinary
share.

In fiscal 2005, the Sartorius Group is striving to continue its
growth pattern and, on the basis of constant foreign exchange rates,
assumes that it will achieve sales revenue growth in the mid- to
upper percentage range of one digit.  In addition, the Sartorius
Group is aiming at achieving an EBIT of over 8% (2004: 7.0%) of
consolidated sales revenue.

The final numbers will be announced at the annual press conference
and the analysts’ conference on March 21, 2005.

end of announcement                    euro adhoc 21.02.2005 10:47:21 

Further inquiry note:

Andreas Wiederhold
Phone +49.551.308.1668
andreas.wiederhold@sartorius.com

Branche: Biotechnology
ISIN: DE0007165607
WKN: 716560
Index: Prime Standard, CDAX, Prime All Share, Technologie All Share
Börsen: Berliner Wertpapierbörse / free trade
Hamburger Wertpapierbörse / free trade
Baden-Württembergische Wertpapierbörse / free trade
Börse Düsseldorf / free trade
Bayerische Börse / free trade
Bremer Wertpapierbörse (BWB) / free trade
Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse / official dealing
Niedersächsische Börse zu Hannover / official dealing