Vita 34 concludes 2019 with significant earnings growth

- Revenue and earnings momentum from Q3 continued in the fourth quarter

- Preliminary revenues almost reach the previous year's level at EUR 20.2 million

- Preliminary EBITDA increases by 21.7 percent to EUR 5.7 million

- Cash and cash equivalents increased significantly by 30.8 percent to EUR 9.1 million

Leipzig, 13 March 2020 - Vita 34 AG (ISIN: DE000A0BL849; WKN: A0BL84), one of the largest cell banks in Europe, concluded the year 2019 on the basis of the first preliminary unaudited business figures with continued dynamic development in the final quarter. Continued growth in the DACH region and a positive development in foreign focus markets brought sales almost back to the previous year's level. As a result of consistent cost management, the earnings increased significantly faster.

Revenues totaled EUR 20.2 million in 2019, almost the same as the previous year (FY 2018: EUR 20.4 million), while earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) against the backdrop of efficiency improvement measures carried out were significantly higher with an increase of 21.7 percent to EUR 5.7 million (FY 2018: EUR 4.7 million). At 28.4 percent, the EBITDA margin was also significantly higher than in the previous year (FY 2018: 23.1 percent).

The Group's liquidity situation also continued to improve. Cash and cash equivalents increased by 30.8 percent to EUR 9.1 million (December 31, 2018: EUR 7.0 million).

The preliminary key figures for the business development in 2019 are as follows:

Compared to the guidance for the 2019 financial year, revenues are accordingly likely to be slightly below the forecast of EUR 21.0 to 23.0 million. By contrast, EBITDA is expected to be slightly above the forecast of EUR 5.0 to 5.6 million.

The Management Board expects revenues and earnings to continue to develop positively in 2020. The company will publish the official outlook for the 2020 financial year with the final audited business figures as part of the annual report.

The assessment of corporate development in the current financial year does not include the effects of a further spread of the COVID-19 virus ("Corona virus"). In general, the Management Board assesses the sensitivity of Vita 34's business model in relation to economic fluctuations as very low. Even in the event of a moderate to slightly above-average influence of COVID-19 on the economy, the Management Board does not currently assume that this will have a negative impact on business development. Nevertheless, the Management Board takes due note of current global developments and takes precautions to be prepared in the event of significant economic effects.

The company will publish its full 2019 annual report as scheduled on March 26, 2020.

Contact:
Ingo Middelmenne
Investor Relations
Vita 34 AG
Phone: +49 (0341) 48792 - 0
Mobile: +49 (0174) 9091190
Email:

Disclaimer

This release contains statements on company figures on a preliminary basis. The 2019 annual financial statements are currently still in preparation. The figures published in the previous report are currently still in the examination process and are currently unaudited. The numbers of the audited annual financial statements may therefore differ significantly from the numbers of the audited annual financial statements, even if they were created 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 complete 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 immune cells from peripheral blood as well as of stem cells from endogenous fat in the future. Nursing cells are a valuable source of medical cell therapy and are kept alive at temperatures as low as minus 200 degrees Celsius to be used 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 depot at Vita 34.