July 22, 2011

Preliminary Figures for the First Half of 2011 (Ad hoc)

Group sales revenue rises 12.2% to ?353.7 million | Consolidated operating earnings soar 40.7% to ?51.1 million; the respective margin improves to 14.4% | Management raises full-year guidance for sales revenue and profit

In the first half of 2011, order intake for the Sartorius Group grew 13.6% (currency-adjusted: +14.6%) from ?336.4 million to ?382.3 million. Sales revenue rose 12.2% (currency-adj.: +13.1%) to ?353.8 million from ?315.2 million in the previous year. The Biotechnology Division received orders valued at ?257.2 million, up 16.2% (currency-adj.: +17.4%) from ?221.4 million a year ago, and increased its sales revenue year on year by 9.7% (currency-adj.: +10.8%) to ?229.4 million from ?209.1 million. For the Mechatronics Division, order intake climbed 8.7% (currency-adj.: +9.2%) to ?125.1 million from ?115.1 million a year earlier; the division?s revenue grew 17.2% (currency-adj.: +17.6%) to ?124.3 million from ?106.1 million a year ago.

Consolidated underlying EBITA surged from ?36.3 million to ?51.1 million; this reflects earnings before interest, taxes and amortization and is adjusted for extraordinary items of -?6.7 million (prev. yr.: -?1.9 mn). The respective margin jumped from 11.5% to 14.4%. The Biotechnology Division contributed an underlying EBITA of ?38.6 million, up from ?31.5 million a year ago, which means its margin increased from 15.0% to 16.8%. The Mechatronics Division more than doubled its contribution to earnings, from ?4.8 million to ?12.4 million; its earnings margin jumped from 4.5% to 10.0%.

Excluding non-cash amortization, underlying net profit after minority interest for the first half totaled ?24.0 million (prev. year: ?15.9 mn); the respective earnings per share were at ?1.41, up from ?0.93 a year ago.

Based on the Group's first-half figures, management has raised its 2011 full-year guidance for sales revenue and profit, and now projects that sales in constant currencies will grow for both divisions and thus also for the Group between 8% and 10% (former guidance: 6% to 8%). The underlying EBITA margin is forecasted to increase in constant currencies to between 17% and 18% for the Biotechnology Division (former guidance: about 17%) and to between 10% and 11% for the Mechatronics Division (former guidance: about 8%). Accordingly, the operating EBITA margin at Group level is expected to improve to between 14.5% and 15.5% (former guidance: about 14%). Moreover, management continues to anticipate that in 2011 operating cash flow will be significantly positive.

Dr. Joachim Kreuzburg, CEO and Executive Board Chairman of Sartorius, will discuss the results with analysts and investors on Monday, July 25, 2011, at 4:00 p.m. Central European Time in a webcast teleconference. You may dial into the teleconference starting at 3:45 p.m. CET at the following numbers: Germany +49 (0)69 2222 2244; France +33(0)1 70 99 42 73; UK +44(0)20 7136 2052; USA +1 212 444 0481.

The dial-in code is as follows: 9817884

The webcast and presentation can be viewed at www.sartorius.com

Goettingen, July 22, 2011