27.02.2003 – 20:34

Sartorius AG

euro adhoc: Sartorius AG
Earnings
For 2002, the Sartorius Group Reports Historic Highs in Sales Revenue and Operating Profit (EBITDA) (E)

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

- Sales revenue grew 6.1% to EUR476.5 million 
 - EBITDA rose 7.1% to EUR36.3 million

The Sartorius Group increased its earnings before interest, taxes,
depreciation and amortization, EBITDA, in fiscal 2002 to a historic
high of EUR36.3 million from EUR33.9 million in 2001. Earnings before
interest and taxes, EBIT, which were adjusted for restructuring in
the Industrial Mechatronics business area and for the structural
buildup of Vivascience, rose 42.3% to EUR24.9 million from EUR17.5
million a year ago.  This, too, has been a record high so far.  At
EUR13.5 million, unadjusted EBIT was just under the year-earlier
figure of EUR13.8 million.  These figures show that the measures
taken during the first half had their full impact.  After having
posted weak first-half earnings, the Sartorius Group succeeded in
substantially boosting second-half earnings.

Despite the overall difficult macroeconomic climate, the Sartorius
Group was able to successfully continue its pattern of growth even in
2002.  Group sales revenue climbed 6.1% to EUR476.5 million from
EUR449.3 million the year before.  Adjusted for the impact of
exchange rate fluctuations, growth in sales revenue at 8.1% was even
higher. The Biotechnology Division supported this positive
development in Group sales revenue.  This division’s sales revenue
grew by 21.1% to EUR254.6 million from EUR210.3 million the previous
year, whereas the Mechatronics Division reported a 7.1% decrease,
caused by the soft economy, to EUR221.9 million from EUR239.0 million
a year earlier. As a result, the Biotechnology Division’s share of
sales revenue was higher in 2002 for the first time than that of the
Mechatronics Division. This sales development shows how important the
Group’s proactively implemented structural evolution has been towards
focusing on biotechnology.  This evolution proved to be the right
approach in 2002.  Order intake relative to the previous year fell
4.4% to EUR459.6 million from EUR481.0 million a year ago because of
two large orders won and included in 2001.

The Executive Board will suggest to the Supervisory Board to pay
dividends on the same level as the previous year’s, and thus
continues to uphold its dividend policy based on continuity and
consistency.  At the meeting scheduled for March 17, 2003, the
Supervisory Board will deal with this dividend proposal and with the
approval of the financial statements.  The figures stated above are
still subject to the auditors’ final review.  The final numbers will
be made public at the annual press conference on April 29, 2003.  The
Annual Shareholders’ Meeting will take place on June 18, 2003, in
Goettingen, Germany.

end of announcement        euro adhoc 27.02.2003

Further inquiry note:

Thomas Hartwig Chief Financial Officer +49 551 308 3871

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