Gerresheimer further increases its sales and earnings power

Düsseldorf (ots) -

- Querverweis: Press Release including table available at
http://www.presseportal.de/dokumente -

* Sales in the second quarter up by 12.8% to EUR 276.3m (first
half: up by 15.2% to EUR 515.4m)
* Adjusted Group results in the second quarter tripled from
EUR 6.3m to EUR 17.6m
* CEO Dr. Axel Herberg confirms the prospects for 2008

Gerresheimer AG again increased its sales and results in the
second quarter of 2008. Compared with the second quarter of 2007,
sales improved by 12.8%, or 16.5% on a like-for-like exchange-rate
basis, to EUR 276.3m. Operating results (Adjusted EBITDA) rose by
20.2% to EUR 53.6m (second quarter of 2007: EUR 44.6m). In the second
quarter of 2008 Gerresheimer therefore achieved an adjusted EBITDA
margin of 19.4% (second quarter of 2007: 18.2%). Contributions to
this gratifying development were made by the positive sales trend in
the market segments of pharmaceutics and cosmetics and by the latest
acquisitions. Overall, Gerresheimer therefore continued the
improvement in its earnings position in the second quarter and thus
the first half of 2008 as a whole. Adjusted Group results increased
in the second quarter of 2008 to EUR 17.6m and in the first half to
EUR 27.5m. This means a three-fold rise and means adjusted earnings
per share of EUR 0.53 in the second quarter and EUR 0.82 for the
first half of 2008.

"Following our record year in 2007 we have again increased our
sales and profit in the first half of 2008", says Dr. Axel Herberg,
CEO of Gerresheimer AG. "We expect further growth in all divisions
during the course of the year and will consistently continue to focus
on pharma & life science."

Just recently, Gerresheimer's discontinuation of peripheral
operations such as consumer health care confirmed this concentration
on pharmaceutics and life science.

Thanks to the positive development in the second quarter a marked
improvement in results has also been achieved for the first half of
2008 as a whole. Sales rose by 15.2%, or 18.9% on a like-for-like
exchange-rate basis, to EUR 515.4m (first half of 2007: EUR 447.3m).
Operating results (Adjusted EBITDA) increased by 20.3% from EUR 80.3m
(first half of 2007) to EUR 96.6m. This positive development was
supported by good performance by all the divisions.

Positive development of all divisions

The Tubular Glass Division improved its sales in the second
quarter of 2008 by 10.3 % to EUR 78.0m (second quarter of 2007: EUR
70.7m). The main contributor was increased demand in the segment of
RTF syringe systems. Production capacity here is already fully
utilised, so a further RTF facility is therefore being constructed
and is to commence production in early 2009. A further contribution
to growth was made by the high level of demand for pharmaceutical
vials in the USA, marked expansion in the Chinese market and the
pharma glass business of Comar Inc. which was acquired in March 2007.
Operating results (Adjusted EBITDA) improved by 22.8 % to EUR 19.4m.

Sales by the Plastic Systems Division rose to EUR 93.6m (second
quarter of 2007: EUR 79.6m). This is equivalent to an increase of
17.6 %. The high-margin segment of medical plastic systems developed
particularly positively. Here sales of inhalers and diabetes-care
products and the segment of molecular diagnostics grew substantially.
Through the sale of the consumer health care business at the start of
the third quarter, Gerresheimer has in addition further focussed the
business of the Plastic Systems Division on the pharma and
life-science market. Operating results (Adjusted EBITDA) rose by 21.8
% from EUR 14.7m (second quarter of 2007) to EUR 17.9m.

Sales by the Moulded Glass Division in the second quarter of 2008
totalled EUR 85.6m. This is equivalent to an increase of 6.1 % in
comparison with the prior year (second quarter of 2007: EUR 80.7m),
well ahead of the market average. The growth was attributable to
higher sales of pharmaceutical vials in the USA and Europe and of
cosmetics products. Thanks to targeted investments in productivity
improvements and continued high capacity utilisation, Gerresheimer
achieved a substantial margin improvement in the Moulded Glass
Division. Compared with the prior year (second quarter of 2007: EUR
16.7m), operating results (Adjusted EBITDA) increased by 11.4 % to
EUR 18.6m.

Sales by the Life Science Research Division in the second quarter
of 2008 totalled EUR 22.6m, an increase of 51.7 % (second quarter of
2007: EUR 14.9m). This growth was largely attributable to the
life-science research business of Thermo Fisher Scientific which was
contributed to the Kimble Chase joint venture in July 2007 and
successfully integrated. Major contributions to the positive results
were also made by the Division's Chinese operations and cost savings
through production relocations. Operating results (Adjusted EBITDA)
improved from EUR 1.5m (second quarter of 2007) to EUR 2.7m in the
second quarter of 2008.

Gerresheimer confirms the future prospects

Despite continuing turbulence in the worldwide finance markets and
dramatically rising energy costs, Gerresheimer expects a sustained
positive trend in the markets in which it operates. Thanks to the
positioning of its product portfolio, Gerresheimer will enjoy
above-average participation in this. Assuming an exchange rate of USD
1.55 : EUR 1.00, sales growth of 9% to 11% is expected for the
current financial year. This is equivalent to a growth rate of 14% to
16% on a like-for-like exchange-rate basis for the businesses which
have been continued.

Thanks to the sales growth and productivity increases,
Gerresheimer continues to expect that operating results (Adjusted
EBITDA) for the financial year 2008 will mean an improvement in the
adjusted EBITDA margin to around 19.5 %.

The sound balance sheet structure and equity ratio combined with
the significant reduction in financial liabilities after the IPO in
2007 plus the cash flow generated will in the future enable
Gerresheimer to achieve further organic growth and successfully
continue its strategy of selective acquisitions. The funds available
will be invested primarily in the field of pharmaceutics and life
science.

About Gerresheimer

Gerresheimer employs more than 10,300 people in 40 locations in
Europe, America and Asia. In the financial year 2007, worldwide sales
totalled around EUR 958m. The product portfolio ranges from
pharmaceutical vials made of glass and plastic through to complex
drug-delivery systems for the pharma & life science industry. These
include sterile syringes, inhalers and other system-based approaches
for safe dosage and application of medications. The Group enjoys a
leading position in markets which are characterised by high technical
and regulatory barriers.

Originaltext: Gerresheimer AG
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Contact Press:
Contact Investor Relations
Burkhard Lingenberg
Director Corporate PR & Marketing
Telephone +49 211 6181-250
Telefax +49 211 6181-241
E-mail b.lingenberg@gerresheimer.com

Anke Linnartz
Director Corporate Investor Relations
Telephone +49 211 6181-314
Telefax +49 211 6181-121
E-mail a.linnartz@gerresheimer.com