Preliminary Results 2014: Sartorius Stedim Biotech with Strong Growth Across the Entire Product Portfolio and All Regions – Positive Outlook for 2015

Regulatory News:

Sartorius Stedim Biotech (Paris:DIM):

Double-digit topline growth

Sartorius Stedim Biotech, a leading supplier for the biopharmaceutical industry, successfully closed the year 2014 with strong, double-digit gains in order intake and sales revenue. Business grew across the entire portfolio, and was driven by both strong organic growth and excellent development of recent acquisitions. All major regions contributed to sales gains, with North America in the lead.

Profits on the rise

Sartorius Stedim Biotech continued to increase its earnings, mainly based on economies of scale. Underlying EBITDA advanced 18.4% to 160.5 million euros, and its corresponding margin reached 23.5%. Extraordinary expenses totaled 4.9 million euros. Underlying earnings per share were 5.68 euros, up year over year from 4.90 euros.

Strong financial performance

Based on its strong earnings growth and net operating cash flow, the Sartorius Stedim Biotech Group further strengthened its financial position. The company’s equity ratio reached 59.4% and the ratio of net debt to underlying EBITDA decreased to 0.5. Net debt was reduced by nearly one-third to 87.4 million euros.

Positive outlook for 2015

Based on healthy market conditions and Sartorius Stedim Biotech’s unique strategic positioning, dynamic business expansion is expected to continue in the current year. For the full year of 2015, the company forecasts sales revenue to increase by about 4% to 7% in constant currencies. Its underlying EBITDA margin is projected to rise to approx. 24.0% to 24.5% in constant currencies. Furthermore, the capex ratio is expected to be in the range of 6% to 8%.

All figures given above are subject to a final audit by statutory auditors.

This press release contains statements about the future development of the Sartorius Stedim Biotech Group. We cannot guarantee that the content of these statements will actually apply because these statements are based upon assumptions and estimates that harbor certain risks and uncertainties.

Conference call and webcast

Joachim Kreuzburg, CEO and Chairman of the Board of the Sartorius Stedim Biotech Group, will discuss the results with analysts and investors on Tuesday, January 27, 2015, at 3:30 p.m. Central European Time (CET), in a teleconference. You may dial into the teleconference starting at 3:20 p.m. CET at the following numbers:

A profile of Sartorius Stedim Biotech

Sartorius Stedim Biotech is a leading provider of cutting-edge products and services for the development, quality assurance and production processes of the biopharmaceutical industry. Its integrated solutions covering fermentation, cell cultivation, filtration, purification, fluid management and lab technologies are supporting the biopharmaceutical industry around the world to develop and produce drugs safely, timely and economically. Sartorius Stedim Biotech focuses on single-use technologies and value-added services to meet the rapidly changing technology requirements of the industry it serves. Strongly rooted in the scientific community and closely allied with customers and technology partners, the company is dedicated to its philosophy of "turning science into solutions.”

Headquartered in Aubagne, France, Sartorius Stedim Biotech is listed on the Eurolist of Euronext Paris. With its own manufacturing and R&D sites in Europe, North America and Asia and a global network of sales companies, Sartorius Stedim Biotech enjoys a worldwide presence. Its key manufacturing and R&D site is in Germany. The company employs approx. 3,700 people, and in 2014 earned sales revenue of 683.5 million euros according to preliminary figures.