Gelsenkirchen, April 7, 2005. According to its preliminary figures, Masterflex AG (ISIN DE0005492938) posted record earnings again in fiscal 2004, with consolidated net profit surging by almost 86 percent to EUR 6.8 million (previous year: EUR 3.7 million). This translated into an excellent net return on sales of 9 percent. Earnings per share rose sharply by 82 percent from EUR 0.84 to EUR 1.53, thus substantially exceeding analysts' expectations. The other profit indicators also pointed to excellent performance. Thus, earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) climbed by EUR 3.8 million to EUR 11.4 million, equivalent to an increase of over 49 percent; of this, around 1 percentage point is due to the revaluation of finished products. Accordingly, EBIT growth came in higher than the Company's own guidance, which had been lifted in August 2004 to 42 - 48 percent. The EBIT margin widened by 11.4 percent to 15.0 percent. Similarly, earnings on ordinary activities rose sharply by almost 60 percent to EUR 10.2 million. Consolidated sales were up 13.2 percent, rising to EUR 75.8 million, thus matching forecasts.
Given the Company's outstanding performance, the Management Board of Masterflex AG will be proposing an increase in the dividend at the meeting of the Supervisory Board on April 11, 2005.
The full annual report will be released at the Company's annual press conference on April 27, 2005.