Corporate | 19 November 2004 08:49

Masterflex AG is continuing its growth course

Corporate-news announcement sent by DGAP. The sender is solely responsible for the contents of this announcement. ——————————————————————————– Masterflex AG is continuing its growth course Quarterly report 3/2004: Revenue +8.3%, EBIT +46.0%, EBIT-margin at record level 14.3% IAS Sept. 30, Sept. 30, +/- 2004 2003 Revenue (EUR thou.)53.609 49.516 +8,3% EBITDA (EUR thou.) 9.654 7.231 +33,5% EBIT (EUR thou.) 7.685 5.265 +40,0% EBT (EUR thou.) 6.886 4.394 +56,7% Net profit (EUR thou.) 4.297 2.337 +83,9% Earnings/share(EUR)0,85 0,52 +82,7% EBIT-margin 14,3% 10,6% +34,9% Gelsenkirchen, November 19, 2004. Masterflex AG (ISIN DE0005492938), listed in the SDAX since September 20, 2004, is continuing its growth path, increasing its revenue in the first nine months of 2004 by 8.3% year-on-year to EUR53.6 million. Earnings continued to outperform this growth rate. Earnings before interest, taxes and amortization (EBITDA) increased by 33.5% to EUR 9,7 million. Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) also continued to outperform this growth rate and generated record earnings of EUR7.7 million – an increase of 46%. The EBIT margin increased by almost 35% to 14.3%, making Masterflex AG one of the leaders among German listed companies. Net profit soared by almost 84% to EUR 4.3 million, resulting in excellent earnings per share of EUR 0.95 (+82.7% year-on- year). Masterflex AG’s above-average earnings growth is indicative of its excellent position in the market. Its dynamic growth is due in particular to an innovative product range and further internationalization of the business. A further reason is the positive business development of our US business, which broke even at the end of last year and has since rapidly increased its revenue and earnings. We regard these as the key pillars for continuing successful development by the company’s business units. In the past nine months, Masterflex AG has continued to concentrate on the manufacture and marketing of high-margin products and has strictly distanced itself from low-margin business in line with this. The resulting streamlining of the product range led to moderate net growth in revenue. However, it also reflects a disproportionate increase in earnings. As Q4 is traditionally the strongest quarter, the Board nevertheless expects an increase in revenue for the year as a whole from 9% to 15%. Masterflex places emphasis on value-driven growth. The Board is therefore more than satisfied with the excellent income growth of the first nine months of 2004. He is therefore extremely confident to reach the annual goal of earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of 42% to 48% and an EBIT margin at the record level already generated. The quarterly report 3/2004 can be downloaded from the website: www.masterflex.de Further information: Masterflex AG, Willy-Brandt-Allee 300, 45891 Gelsenkirchen, kniep@masterflex.de, Tel. +49 209-9707744, Fax +49 209-9707720. end of message, (c)DGAP 19.11.2004 ——————————————————————————– WKN: 549 293; ISIN: DE0005492938; Index: SDAX Listed: Amtlicher Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin- Bremen, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, München und Stuttgart 190849 Nov 04