BRAIN AG achieves solid growth in the first half of the 2019/20 financial year
- Strong growth in the BioScience segment
- No significant Covid-19 effects
B.R.A.I.N. Biotechnology Research and Information Network AG (BRAIN AG, ISIN DE0005203947 / WKN 520394) today published its results for the first half of the 2019/20 financial year. Accordingly, the BRAIN Group generated consolidated revenues of € 19.9 million in the reporting period from October 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020, compared to € 18.5 million in the same period last year. This represents a growth rate of 7.6%.
Organically, i.e. on a like for like basis without Monteil Cosmetics International GmbH, whose shares were sold in June of the previous year, revenues increased by 14.1%. Total operating performance also increased by € 0.4 million (1.9%) from € 19.8 million to € 20.2 million compared to the same period of the previous year. In organic terms, total operating performance increased by € 1.4 million or 7.5% from € 18.8 million to € 20.2 million.
Group EBITDA improved by 50.5% from € -1.8 million in the previous year to € -0.9 million in the first six months of the 2019/20 financial year.
Development of the “BioScience” Segment
The “BioScience” segment, which mainly comprises the R&D project business, generated revenues of € 6.8 million in the reporting period. Revenues were thus 31.9% higher than in the prior-year period. This increase is attributable to a larger business volume with existing customers and to the signing of new contracts for “tailor made solutions” projects.
EBITDA improved from € -3.2 million to € -2.4 million, mainly due to higher revenues and improved cost of materials, personnel expenses, and other expense ratios in the BioScience segment.
Development of the “BioIndustrial” segment
Revenues in the “BioIndustrial” segment fell slightly by 1.8% from € 13.3 million to € 13.1 million in the reporting period. This segment represents the product business of the BRAIN Group. Organically, i.e. without taking into account the disposal of shares in Monteil Cosmetics International GmbH, revenues increased by € 0.8 million or 6.5% from € 12.3 million to € 13.1 million. The total operating performance decreased by 6.0% from € 13.7 million to € 12.8 million. Organically, the total operating performance increased by € 0.2 million (1.7%) from € 12.6 million to € 12.8 million. EBITDA increased by 8.6% from € 1.4 million to € 1.5 million. Despite ramp-up costs for the start-up of new production facilities in Cardiff (UK) and Büttelborn, the EBITDA margin increased from 10.6% to 11.7%.
Manfred Bender, CFO of BRAIN AG, states: “I am very proud of our BRAIN Group's employees, who have managed to successfully develop our operating business during the difficult times of the pandemic outbreak.”
Little impact from Corona pandemic
Brain AG has early and consistently implemented successful protective measures to prevent Covid-19-related absences from work. There were also no serious supply bottlenecks. Despite the forecasted significantly negative effects of the Corona pandemic on global economic growth, BRAIN AG is confident that it will be able to continue its significant growth within the forecasted range.
Adriaan Moelker, CEO of BRAIN AG, says: “At BRAIN, the long-term R&D project business plays an important role and we generate a substantial part of our revenues from long-term deals. This is a benefit to us in the current Corona crisis. The industries and challenges for which we develop and sell biotech products and solutions, most notably the food industry, also appear to be less affected by the corona crisis. In addition, our solutions for more sustainable products and industrial processes are gaining importance. On the journey to sustainability and the bio-economy, many industrial companies are looking for innovative technologies so that they can make their contribution to the UN goals, the SDGs.”
Key financials (first six months of the financial year 2019/20)
| (in € million) | 6M 2019/20 | 6M 2018/19 |
|---|---|---|
| Revenues | 19.9 | 18.5 |
| BioScience | 6.8 | 5.2 |
| BioIndustrial | 13.1 | 13.3 |
| Total operating performance1 | 20.2 | 19.8 |
| Adjusted EBITDA2 | -0.7 | -1.7 |
| EBITDA | -0.9 | -1.8 |
| Operating cash flow | -4.1 | -2.9 |
| 31.03.2020 | 30.09.2019 | |
| Cash & cash equivalents | 6.4 | 15.2 |
1 Revenues + change in inventories + other income including R&D grants.
2 The reconciliation from adjusted to unadjusted EBITDA can be found in the quarterly statement for the period ended 31 March 2020.
Additional information
BRAIN AG 6M-Report 2019/20:
www.brain-biotech.com/investors/financial-publications
Financial calendar:
www.brain-biotech.com/investors/financial-calendar
About BRAIN
BRAIN Biotech AG is a leading European supplier of bio-based products and solutions such as enzymes and proteins, microbial production strains, natural compounds and biotechnological solutions for more sustainable industrial processes. The company focuses on the fields of nutrition, health and environment.
BRAIN Biotech AG is the parent company of the international BRAIN Biotech Group. The Group's business activities are divided into three segments: The BioProducts segment comprises the product business with specialty enzymes and other proteins, for which the Group operates fermentation facilities in the United Kingdom and production facilities in continental Europe and the United States. The BioScience segment offers research-intensive custom solutions based on enzyme technology, strain development, bioprocess development and natural product screening. The BioIncubator segment conducts its own R&D projects or those initiated with partners with high value-added potential. A particularly promising incubator project is the development of the Company's own CRISPR-based gene editing technology platform, which is currently being established and expanded by Akribion Genomics (in foundation planning).
Through its own R&D activities, BRAIN Biotech Group is continuously expanding its product portfolio in the field of specialty enzymes and small molecules. The latter are the starting point for screenings, e.g. for novel drug candidates for pharmaceutical applications.
BRAIN Biotech AG has been listed on the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since February 9, 2016 (ticker symbol: BNN; securities identification number: ISIN DE0005203947 / WKN 520394). The company employs approximately 330 people and generated revenues of EUR 55,3 million in the fiscal year 2022/23.
For more information, please visit: https://www.brain-biotech.com, LinkedIn, Threads and YouTube.
Disclaimer
This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements reflect the current views, expectations, and assumptions of the management of BRAIN Biotech AG, and are based on information currently available to the management. Forward-looking statements are no guarantees of future performance, and entail both known and unknown risks as well as uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Numerous factors exist that could influence the future performance of and future developments at BRAIN Biotech AG and the BRAIN Biotech Group. 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, as well as other factors. BRAIN Biotech AG does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.