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Interim report for the period January - September 2012

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Third quarter July - September 2012                                                                                                           

  • Group net sales in the third quarter 2012 increased by 1 percent to 107.1 MSEK (106.6). At comparable exchange rates the sales were at the same level as the corresponding quarter 2011.
  • Operating profit in the quarter amounted to 8.9 MSEK (10.9).
  • The result after tax amounted to 3.7 MSEK (11.4).
  • Earnings per share amounted to 0.05 SEK (0.15).
  • The cash flow from operating activities amounted to 12.2 MSEK (13.7).
  • Net cash at September 30 amounted to 157.0 MSEK, compared to 158.3 MSEK at June 30.

Nine-month period January – September 2012                                                                           

  • Group net sales in the first nine months 2012 increased by 12 percent to 349.0 MSEK (312.4). At comparable exchange rates sales increased by 7 percent.
  • Operating profit in the nine-month period amounted to 30.3 MSEK (15.3).
  • The result after tax amounted to 24.7 MSEK (15.3).
  • Earnings per share amounted to 0.34 SEK (0.20).
  • The cash flow from operating activities amounted to 44.5 MSEK (75.7).
  • Net cash at September 30 amounted to 157.0 MSEK, compared to 198.4 MSEK at December 31 2011.
  • In May dividends to the shareholders were paid to the amount of 29.3 MSEK (19.9).
  • At the end of the reported period Biotage owned a total of 411,731 own shares, which the company had bought within the framework of the repurchasing program decided at the Annual General Meeting on April 26, 2012.

Comments by CEO Torben Jörgensen

Even though sales in the third quarter did not meet our expectations we have seen a good development in several of our product areas. It is primarily the sales of certain instruments that have not developed satisfactorily during the quarter. However, we expect a better last quarter due to the seasonal variation traditionally occurring in our line of business.

For a longer period of time we have worked to increase the share of aftermarket products (consumables and service). In the third quarter almost 60 percent of the sales came from these products, which is in line with our long-term ambition.

An advantageous product mix and continued cost control has meant that we can report a sound 60 percent gross margin. The result in the quarter was severely affected by currency effects amounting to a total of no less than -5.7 MSEK, however. The corresponding currency effect in the third quarter 2011 was +3.8 MSEK.

Biotage continues to show strong growth in consumables for analytical chemistry. In the US we have for example managed to convert a number of contract laboratories working with pain management to Biotage’s products. We are also seeing a continued positive development in purification, where we have launched a number of new consumables during the last six months. Also the product offering in organic chemistry has been strengthened during the year. We have launched both new instruments and consumables products that have shown good sales results and met with appreciation from our customers. As recently as in early September we presented a new peptide synthesis instrument, Biotage® Initiator+ Alstra™, which has been well received in the market. Biotage will make new product introductions also in 2013 in organic as well as analytical chemistry, which can be expected to further strengthen our market position.

Our operations in China and Japan continue to develop well. We have good momentum in both these countries. Historically we have been less successful in our sales of consumables there. To address the Japanese market and its local preferences we have launched a product line of consumables in purification especially adapted to the Japanese market.

In South America we maintain a relatively high level of activity. We are working for a stronger presence there through a further developed network of distributors. The South European market has been showing signs of weakness for some time. The academic sector in particular is affected by withdrawn funding. In India sales are slow and we are analyzing future opportunities for a better penetration of this significant market.

In summary I am glad, despite lower sales than expected, that we have met two important strategic goals in the past quarter, as we reached a gross margin of 60 percent and the share of so-called aftermarket products constituted almost 60 percent of our sales.

For further information, please contact:
Torben Jörgensen, President and CEO, phone:+46 707 49 05 84
Erika Söderberg Johnson, CFO, phone: +46 730 50 80 56

The information in this press release is of the kind that Biotage AB (publ) is required to make public according to the Financial Instruments Trading Act. The information was released for publication at 08.00 on October 26, 2012.

About Biotage
Biotage offers solutions, knowledge and experience in the areas of analytical chemistry and medicinal chemistry. The customers include the world’s largest pharmaceutical and biotech companies, and leading academic institutes. The company is headquartered in Uppsala and has offices in the US, UK, China and Japan. Biotage has approx. 270 employees and had sales of 428.1 MSEK in 2011. Biotage is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Nordic Stockholm stock exchange. Website: www.biotage.com

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