Jena, May 15, 2007 - Analytik Jena (Frankfurt DE0005213508, Prime Standard: AJA) today announced the results of the first two quarters of the financial year 2006/2007. According to these results, the Group has also successfully built on its positive business development in the second quarter. In doing so, total net sales increased by 6.4% to EUR 34.0 m (previous year: EUR 32.0 m). This development is reflected even more noticeably in the operating result which rose by 20.1% to almost EUR 2.1 m (previous year: EUR 1.7 m).

"It is very pleasing that the earnings development has been achieved sustainably across the instrument business", stated Klaus Berka, Chairman of the Executive Board of Analytik Jena AG. "Although we reported continued start-up costs for our most recent subsidiary in Japan, we have increased our presence on international markets. This can also be seen in terms of the comparatively high number of equipment systems sold. For example, the quantity of analytical equipment sold in the analytical solutions business unit is only slightly behind the total number of systems supplied during the previous financial year."

On the whole, the Group achieved an increase in sales in the instrument business unit by 10.9% to EUR 21.722 m (previous year: EUR 19.588 m) after the first six months of the financial year. Sales in the project solutions business unit are at the same level as the previous year at EUR 12.282 m (previous year: EUR 12.385 m).

With sales abroad totalling EUR 25.776 m (previous year: EUR 23.297 m), the Group reported an increase in exports from 72.9% to 75.8%. With a sales increase of 12.9%, Europe remains the major regional market for Analytik Jena. The sales achieved in this region amount to EUR 16.540 m (previous year: EUR 14.648 m). Sales in Asia after the first six months are at the same level as that of the comparative period of the previous year at EUR 6.106 m (previous year: EUR 6.181 m).  On the American market, the Group expanded its sales by 50.1% to EUR 1.483 m (previous year: EUR 0.988 m). Sales on the German market fell slightly by 5.2% in the period comparison from EUR 8.676 m to EUR 8.228 m.

As of March 31, 2007, gross profit rose at an above-average rate by 16.8% from EUR 12.026 m to EUR 14.052 m. The total gross margin for the Group amounted to 41.3% (previous year: 37.6%).

At the end of the first six months, the Group operating result (EBIT) was up 20.1% from EUR 1.728 m to EUR 2.075 m. Also in light of the increase in sales, Analytik Jena further expanded the operating result margin from 5.4% to 6.1%.
At EUR -0.241 m (previous year: 0.487 m), net finance income and expenses more than halves. Thus earnings before taxes climbed at a strong rate by 47.8% to EUR 1.834 m (previous year: EUR 1.241 m). Overall in the first six months of the financial year 2006/2007, Analytik Jena generated net income for the period of EUR 1.135 m (previous year: 0.849 m). This corresponds to a 24.2% increase in profit. Earnings per share (basic) are currently EUR 0.24 with an average number of shares outstanding of 4,643,920 (previous year: 0.23 with an average number of shares outstanding of 3,750,007).

At the end of the reporting period, the Group's cash and cash equivalents amounted to EUR 7.288 (as at September 20, 2006: EUR 11.735 m). Tied funds are generally used for the advance financing of major orders in the project solutions business unit and covers the demand of working capital in the instrument segment adapted to the rapidly growing business volume.
Trade accounts payable fell from EUR 11.051 m to EUR 9.035 m. The Group's short-term loans decreased from EUR 2.150 m to EUR 1.086 m, down by approximately half. Manufacturing orders with a debit balance showed an increase of EUR 3.727 m to a current level of EUR 6.695 m compared to September 30, 2006.
The balance sheet total for the Group of EUR 63.451 m is nearly the same as at September 30, 2006 with EUR 63.607 m. As a result of the increase in equity by EUR 1.464 m to EUR 29.102 m, the equity ratio increased from 43.5% to 45.9%.

"We expect the company's positive development to continue in the third quarter. We are expecting the first significant sales from Japan in the second half of the year. Within the project business we anticipate only a slight recovery in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter of the financial year we anticipate considerable increases in sales for this segment. We are confirming our sales and profit forecasts for the financial year 2006/2007 on the basis of our half-yearly figures and the current business trend", stated Klaus Berka.

• Group sales up 6.4%
• Operating result rises by 20.1%
• Earnings per share EUR 0.24