At 4.8 million euros, the division generated positive operating earnings (underlying EBITA) during the first six months of 2010 following an operating loss of 3.4 million euros in the year-earlier period. The division's respective margin surged to 4.5% compared with -3.4% a year ago. "In the Mechatronics Division, we are continuing to feel the effects of economic recovery, but are not yet operating back at the level of the years before the economic crisis. Profitable growth in Asia and the mostly completed implementation of extensive restructuring and cost-reduction measures last year especially contributed to this positive development. For the future, continued stringent cost management and productivity increases as well as ongoing strategic realignment of the Mechatronics Division will remain on the agenda," commented Dr. Kreuzburg.

Business Development of the Sartorius Group

On the whole, the Group received orders valued at 336.4 million euros in the first half of 2010, up from 306.4 million euros a year earlier. This equates to a gain of 9.8% (constant currencies: +8.4%). Consolidated first-half sales revenue rose 6.3% (constant currencies: +5.1%) to 315.2 million euros, up from 296.5 million euros reported in the same period a year ago. From January to June, the Group's operating earnings>

First-half extraordinary expenses stand at 1.9 million euros compared with the previous year's figure of 16.3 million euros, which was particularly due to restructuring of Mechatronics. Including first-half extraordinary expenses, consolidated EBITA amounts to 34.4 million euros, up from 8.4 million euros a year ago. The Group's respective EBITA margin is at 10.9%, up from 2.8% in the year before. The Group's relevant net profit is 15.9 million euros, significantly up from 6.4 million euros a year earlier. This profit is calculated by excluding extraordinary expenses, as well as non-cash amortization of 3.5 million euros (same figure as in the previous year: 3.5 million euros). The corresponding earnings per share are 0.93 euro, well up from 0.37 euro a year ago.

"It is encouraging that following the highly divergent business pattern of the past year, both divisions are now reporting positive development and have contributed to the strong increase in the Group's profit. Based on our first-half results and order backlog, we see that we are well on the way toward reaching our targets for 2010," commented the CEO of Sartorius.

Source: Sartorius