DGAP-News: B.R.A.I.N. Biotechnology Research And

DGAP-News: B.R.A.I.N. Biotechnology Research And Information Network AG / Key word(s): Half Year Results/Interim Report B.R.A.I.N. Biotechnology Research And Information Network AG: BRAIN continues to demonstrate a solid business performance in the first half year 2015/16 31.05.2016 / 08:00 The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- BRAIN continues to demonstrate a solid business performance in the first half year 2015/16 - Slight increase of total operating performance to Euro 13.0m - Double-digit growth rates in BioScience segment - Oil price related decline in demand for enzymes used in bioethanol production - Results affected by one-off costs (IPO) Zwingenberg, May 31, 2016: B.R.A.I.N. Biotechnology Research and Information Network AG ("BRAIN AG"; ISIN DE0005203947 / WKN 520394) today published its financial results for the first half of fiscal year 2015/16. Accordingly, during the reporting period from October 1, 2015 to March 31, 2016, the business developed positively with only one exception. The BRAIN Group's total operating performance increased from Euro 12.8m to Euro 13.0m in a year-over-year comparison. While the "BioIndustrial" segment experienced a decline in demand for enzymes used in the bioethanol production, the "BioScience" segment, recorded double-digit growth rates. The total operating performance of the "BioIndustrial" segment decreased by 7 percent to Euro 6.6m in the first half year of 2015/16, from Euro 7.1m in the previous year period. This development is mainly due to the decrease in the enzyme business of the WeissBioTech subsidiary, where the growth in the field of "Specialty Enzymes" was overcompensated by the oil price related weak demand for "Bulk Enzymes" e.g. used in the bioethanol production. In the transport sector bioethanol serves as a substitute for gasoline produced from mineral oil. Due to the significant fall in oil prices, especially in the second quarter of the fiscal year 2015/16, oil was even cheaper than bioethanol for some time. Accordingly, demand for bioethanol as well as for enzymes used in its production was low in that period of time. Against this background, the strategic focus of WeissBioTech on the more profitable and fast growing field of "Specialty Enzymes" will be further promoted and expanded. As a result, the share of total Group operating performance of the industrial product business, combined in the "BioIndustrial" segment, decreased from 55 percent to 51 percent. The remaining 49 percent were contributed by the "BioScience" segment, representing the collaboration business of BRAIN, where the total operating performance in the first half year of 2015/16 increased by 11 percent year- over-year from Euro 5.7m to Euro 6.4m. The Group operating result (EBIT) declined from Euro -2.1m to Euro -5.3m over the previous year. Adjusted for one-off IPO-costs of Euro 0.8m and personnel expenses resulting from a share-based employee compensation scheme of Euro 0.9m, the adjusted Group EBIT amounted to Euro -3.3m in the first six months of fiscal year 2015/16. Thereof, Euro -0.2m relate to the "BioIndustrial" segment and Euro -3.1m to the "BioScience" segment. "The industrialisation strategy and the expansion of our own product pipeline are progressing as planned. An increasing focus on Specialty Enzymes, e.g. for use in food and fruit juice production, will contribute to a continuous reduction of oil price sensitivity, which has unfortunately overshadowed the otherwise very positive development in the first half- year. Besides that, we can still rely on our collaboration business with industrial partners as a solid second pillar, as evidenced once again in the first half-year of 2015/16. We will continue to pursue our course of profitable growth and, from today's perspective, we expect to reach EBIT break-even as planned in the course of the fiscal year 2017/18", comments Dr Jürgen Eck, CEO of BRAIN AG. Key financials (first six months of fiscal year 2015/16) <pre> (in Euro million)1 6M 6M 2015/16 2014/15 Total operating performance2 12.952 12.791 BioScience 6.386 5.737 BioIndustrial 6.631 7.123 Adjustments (consolidation effects) -0.066 -0.070 EBIT -5.271 -2.099 Adjusted EBIT3 -3.253 -2.087 Group result -6.125 -2.748 Equity 31.826 5.755 Equity in percent of total assets 67.8% 17.99% Result per share in Euro -0.44 -0.21 Cash flows from operating -4.568 -2.713 activities Cash flows from financing 25.238 1.633 activities </pre> 1) The financial figures of the first half of fiscal 2015/16 are comparable only to a limited extent to the values of the previous year, as for the first half of FY 2014/15 they include the financial figures of the WeissBioTech organisations only since November 2014 due to the acquisition 2) Revenues + change in inventories + other income including R&D grants, only comparable to a limited extent 3) Adjusted for one-off costs of the IPO and expenses resulting from share-based employee participation plans More detailed information on the half-yearly financial results are available at www.brain-biotech.de/en/investor-relations/financial- publications as part of the half-year financial report for the period ending March 31, 2016. +++ENDS+++ About BRAIN BRAIN is one of Europe's leading technology companies in the field of industrial biotechnology, the core discipline of Bioeconomy. As such, BRAIN identifies previously untapped, efficient enzymes, microbial producer organisms or natural substances from complex biological systems that can be put to industrial use. The innovative solutions and products developed by help of this "Toolbox of Nature" are successfully applied in the chemistry, the cosmetics and the food industries. Today, BRAIN's business model is based on two pillars - "BioScience" and "BioIndustrial". The first pillar, "BioScience", comprises its - frequently exclusive - collaboration business with industrial partners. The second pillar "BioIndustrial" comprises the development and commercialisation of BRAIN's own products and active product components. Further information is available at www.brain- biotech.de/en Contact: B.R.A.I.N Biotechnology Research And Information Network AG Dr. Martin Langer Executive Vice President Corporate Development Darmstädter Str. 34-36 64673 Zwingenberg, Germany Tel.: +49-6251-9331-0 Fax: +49-6251-9331-11 E-Mail: ir@brain-biotech.de www.brain-biotech.de Disclaimer This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements reflect the current views, expectations, and assumptions of the management of BRAIN AG and are based on information currently available to the management. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. There are numerous factors which could influence the future performance by and future developments at BRAIN AG and the BRAIN group of companies. Such factors include, but are not limited to, changes in the general economic and competitive environment, risks associated with capital markets, currency exchange rate fluctuations, changes in international and national laws and regulations, in particular with respect to tax laws and regulations, and other factors. BRAIN AG does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward- looking statements. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 31.05.2016 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.dgap.de --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Company: B.R.A.I.N. Biotechnology Research And Information Network AG Darmstädter Straße 34-36 64673 Zwingenberg Germany Phone: +49 (0) 62 51 / 9331-0 Fax: +49 (0) 62 51 / 9331-11 E-mail: ir@brain-biotech.de Internet: www.brain-biotech.de ISIN: DE0005203947 WKN: 520394 Listed: Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Munich, Stuttgart, Tradegate Exchange End of News DGAP News Service --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 467365 31.05.2016