DGAP-News: Vita 34 concludes 2018 with significant earnings growth according to preliminary figures

Vita 34 concludes 2018 with significant earnings growth according to preliminary figures

- Revenues increased by 6.3 percent to EUR 20.4 million

- EBITDA multiplies after efficiency measures to EUR 4.7 million

- Cash and cash equivalents increase by 66.5 percent to EUR 7.0 million

Leipzig, 28 February 2019 - Vita 34 AG (ISIN: DE000A0BL849, WKN: A0BL84), one of the largest cell banks in Europe, has concluded the year 2018 very successfully on the basis of the first preliminary unaudited financial figures. The company has grown significantly both in terms of sales and, above all, earnings.

At EUR 20.4 million, revenues in the full year 2018 were 6.3 percent up on the previous year (FY 2017: EUR 19.2 million), while earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) increased by 157.1 percent to EUR 4.7 million (FY 2017: EUR 1.8 million). Due to sustainably optimized expenses for administration, sales and marketing as well as acquisition-related one-time expenses in the previous year, EBITDA increased disproportionately. At 23.3 percent, the EBITDA margin was also significantly higher than in the previous year (FY 2017: 9.6 percent).

Furthermore, the Group's liquidity situation has continued to improve as planned. Cash and cash equivalents increased by 66.5 percent to EUR 7.0 million (31 December 2017: EUR 4.2 million). Net debt in the Group consequently fell to EUR 0.7 million.

The preliminary business development figures for 2018 are as follows:

Compared to the guidance for the financial year 2018, revenues are therefore likely to be slightly below the forecast of EUR 21.0 to 23.0 million. EBITDA is expected to be slightly above the forecast of EUR 4.0 to 4.6 million. The company will publish its full Annual Report 2018 as scheduled on 28 March 2019.

Contact:
Ingo Middelmenne
Investor Relations
Vita 34 AG
Phone: +49 (0341) 48792 - 0
Mobile: +49 (0174) 9091190
Email: ingo.middelmenne@vita34.de

Disclaimer

This release contains statements of company figures on a preliminary basis. The financial statements for 2018 are currently being prepared. The figures published in the previous announcement are still under review and are currently unaudited. Therefore, the figures in the audited financial statements may differ materially from the figures in the audited financial statements, even if they have been prepared with the greatest care.

Company profile

Vita 34 was founded in Leipzig in 1997 and is today one of the leading cell banks in Europe. As the first private umbilical cord blood bank in Europe and a pioneer in cell banking, the company has since then been a full-service provider of cryopreservation services for the collection, processing and storage of stem cells from umbilical cord blood and umbilical cord tissue. Based on the expansion of the business model in 2019, Vita 34 intends to also offer the storage of stem cells from autologous fat tissue as well as immune cells and cell preparations from peripheral blood and umbilical cord blood in the future. Autologous cells are a valuable source of medical cell therapy and are kept alive at temperatures as low as minus 200 degrees Celsius for use as part of a treatment when needed. More than 230,000 customers from more than 20 countries have already provided for their family's health with a cell deposit at Vita 34.