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PRESS RELEASE: Epigenomics and VSA receive approval to market Epi proColon in Argentina

DGAP-News: Epigenomics AG / Key word(s): Regulatory Approval Epigenomics and VSA receive approval to market Epi proColon in Argentina

10.03.2014 / 10:00

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Epigenomics and VSA receive approval to market Epi proColon in Argentina

Berlin (Germany), Germantown, MD (U.S.A.) and Buenos Aires (Argentina) March 10, 2014 - Epigenomics AG (Frankfurt Prime Standard: ECX, OTC: EPGNY), the German-American cancer molecular diagnostics company, and VSA ALTA COMPLEJIDAD S.A. (VSA), a leading Argentinean pharmaceutical and blood diagnostics company announced today that VSA has received approval to market the Epigenomics Epi proColon(R) kit for the blood-based detection of colorectal cancer (CRC) in Argentina.

Since 2013, Epigenomics and VSA worked together, performing extensive pre-approval work to meet the requirements of ANMAT, the diagnostic testing regulatory control body of Argentina. VSA has already secured relationships with leading diagnostic reference laboratories in the country in order to make the assay available in Argentina starting during the "Colon Cancer Awareness Month" in March. The intention of this internationally implemented campaign is to increase the awareness of colorectal cancer risks and to convince people to prevent the disease by participating in CRC screening programs. The Epi proColon(R) blood test will allow patients greater access to CRC screening in the country.

Noel Doheny, CEO of Epigenomics' US subsidiary, commented: "We are extremely pleased about the regulatory approval to market Epi proColon(R) in Argentina. This makes Argentina the first country outside Europe to have granted approval for our test. Given VSA's significant diagnostic testing skill set, combined with a keen focus on the colorectal cancer space, we believe VSA is an ideal partner for Epigenomics and we thank VSA for their significant efforts to achieve this regulatory milestone."

"The Epigenomics assay enables VSA to extend its market leading efforts to improve access to colorectal cancer screening and reduce the colorectal cancer burden in Argentina," said Luis Israel, CEO of VSA, "Due to late detection, mortality rates from colorectal cancer are still among the highest for males and females in our country, so we have made the launch and roll-out of the blood based assay a priority."

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PRESS RELEASE: Epigenomics and VSA receive approval to market Epi proColon in Argentina

DGAP-News: Ekosem-Agrar GmbH / Key word(s): Bond Ekosem-Agrar GmbH: Creditreform adjusts rating outlook to 'watch'

10.03.2014 / 12:30

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Ekosem-Agrar GmbH: Creditreform adjusts rating outlook to "watch"

Walldorf, 10 March 2014 - Due to the ongoing crisis in Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula, Creditreform Rating AG has adjusted the rating of Ekosem-Agrar GmbH, the German holding company of Russian milk producer Ekoniva Group, from BB (outlook: stable) to BB (outlook: watch). Such adjustments were made for several companies which, like Ekosem-Agrar, are active in Russia or Ukraine and which may be affected by potential sanctions or exchange rate effects resulting from the crisis.

From Ekosem-Agrar's point of view, the current political crisis in Crimea has so far not had any negative impact on agricultural and milk production - right on the contrary. Because of the current crisis, an agreement under preparation with New Zealand has been frozen, which would have facilitated more imports of milk or milk production to the Russian Federation. In addition, the planned lifting of import restrictions for US products has been suspended.

The Group produces in Russia for domestic consumption and is therefore not dependent on imports or exports of its products. Accordingly, potential trading restrictions would have no direct consequences.

At the bottom line, the depreciation of the rouble, which started almost one year ago, has had clearly positive effects on the Group's business trend. Domestic production currently covers only about 60% of Russia's demand for raw milk. The remaining 40% needs to be imported. The rouble sales price is therefore regularly derived from the world market price, which is denominated in euros and US dollars. These higher rouble prices can be passed on to the dairies. After the latest depreciation of the rouble, for instance, the company agreed a 15% price increase (in roubles) to the equivalent of 47 euro cents with one of its main customers. This means that the Group today generates much higher revenues in euros than one year ago.

Ekoniva currently produces over 400 tons of milk per day. The average sales price today stands above 23 roubles, which represents an increase of 15% since the beginning of the year - and rising. The prices of agricultural products and meat are picking up as well. By contrast, personnel expenses and rouble-denominated liabilities - which represent most of the Group's debt capital - stay at the low rouble level. While the weak rouble has negative effects on euro-denominated liabilities, these are more than offset by the positive effects described above, all the more so if one considers that corresponding rouble-denominated liabilities exist whose repayment is facilitated because of these effects.

Basically, the current crisis will lead to the Russian government attaching even greater importance to a strong agricultural industry and promoting investments in the sector. At the end of 2013, German national Stefan Drr, majority shareholder of Ekosem-Agrar, was additionally granted Russian nationality by the President in recognition of his achievements for Russia's agricultural industry. He maintains a regular exchange with political and economic decision-makers in order to secure positive conditions for the company's business activities.

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PRESS RELEASE: Ekosem-Agrar GmbH: Creditreform adjusts rating outlook to 'watch'

PRESS RELEASE: YOUNIQ AG publishes preliminary consolidated net result for financial year 2013

DGAP-News: YOUNIQ AG / Key word(s): Preliminary Results/Miscellaneous YOUNIQ AG publishes preliminary consolidated net result for financial year 2013

10.03.2014 / 08:55

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- Consolidated net loss of EUR -54.1 million (2012: EUR -7.1 million) - Properties from "Renting and Trading Real Estate" segment largely sold, carrying amount of around EUR 6.9 million as of December 31, 2013 - All current projects in "YOUNIQ - Student Housing" almost fully completed and transferred to rental - Operating overhead costs cut by more than EUR 2.0 million p.a. to date

Frankfurt/Main, March 10, 2014 - YOUNIQ AG, a real estate company specialising in Student Housing, reports a EUR 23.0 million consolidated net loss (IFRS) in the fourth quarter of 2013 on the basis of preliminary and unaudited results. In particular, a reappraisal of tax loss carryforwards and a resultant write-down of deferred tax assets contributed to this loss. In a 2013 financial year characterised by operating challenges, the full-year net loss (IFRS) amounted to EUR -54.1 million on the basis of preliminary and unaudited figures (2012: EUR -7.1 million). The losses - in addition to the mentioned write-down - were incurred in both the "YOUNIQ - Student Housing" segment and the segments that are to be discontinued. In the continuing operations, retroactive construction cost adjustments placed a particular burden on the result. In the operations to be discontinued, especially expenses and charges as part of the disposal of portfolio properties, and provisions for warranties, contributed negatively to the result.

The company succeeded in realising a considerable reduction in the real estate portfolio in its "Renting and Trading Real Estate" segment in 2013. The carrying amount of the remaining properties amounted to around EUR 6.9 million as of December 31, 2013 (December 31, 2012: EUR 33.3 million). Of these properties, real estate disposals with a carrying amount of around EUR 3.5 million have already been officially recorded by notaries. The related transfer of benefits and encumbrances will occur prospectively during the first and second quarters of the 2014 financial year. The carrying amount of the properties that are still to be sold currently stands at around EUR 3.4 million as a consequence. In addition, all properties in the construction stage in the "YOUNIQ - Student Housing" segment are almost fully completed by the start of 2014, have transferred to the rental stage, and some have been sold. The Management Board has also reduced future operating overhead costs by more than EUR 2.0 million per year through savings in various business areas, although these will not impact results until during the course of the current 2014 financial year, and have also burdened the 2013 consolidated net result through one-off expenses.

All figures quoted for the 2013 financial year are preliminary. The final and audited results for the 2013 financial year will be published with the annual report on March 28, 2014.

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YOUNIQ AG

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PRESS RELEASE: YOUNIQ AG publishes preliminary consolidated net result for financial year 2013

11.03.14 08:26 Dow Jones Newswires

PRESS RELEASE: technotrans AG: technotrans continues to expect moderate growth

DGAP-News: technotrans AG / Key word(s): Final Results technotrans AG: technotrans continues to expect moderate growth

11.03.2014 / 08:25

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2013 financial year completed in line with adjusted expectations / revenue up 16.0 percent to EUR 105.2 million / EBIT margin reaches 4.4 percent / dividend 20 cents per share / drive to increase revenue share from outside printing industry making good progress

Sassenberg, March 11, 2014 The revenue total for the technotrans Group reached EUR 105.2 million in the past financial year, representing growth of 16.0 percent compared with the previous year (EUR 90.7 million). This increase was driven first and foremost by the takeover of KLH Kltetechnik GmbH and its Asian sister companies. The printing industry, on the other hand - still technotrans' most important sales market - again performed more weakly than expected in the past financial year. In consequence, revenue of EUR 105.2 million ultimately came in merely at the bottom end of the target range for the year as a whole (EUR 110 million, +/- 5 percent). Overall, EBIT for the 2013 financial year reached EUR 4.6 million, compared with EUR 5.4 million in the previous year (-13.6 percent); that equates to an EBIT margin of 4.4 percent. As a result, the earnings target for 2013 (EBIT margin of 6 to 7 percent) defined at the start of the financial year was not achieved.

"Developments in the 2013 financial year confirmed our resolve to maintain our assertive pursuit of a course of strategic reorientation. The process of tapping new sales markets with the goal of actively taking control of organic growth again made good progress in 2013. It is merely that it is taking longer than we anticipated to realise the revenue potential of a number of projects. We therefore view the 2013 financial year as a year of transition and will continue following our chosen course", explained Henry Brickenkamp, Board of Management Spokesman of technotrans AG. "In the 2013 financial year we achieved our goal of increasing our revenue share from outside the printing industry to 30 percent. Following the takeover of Termotek AG in 2011, we have thus added considerable breadth to our presence in the growing market of the laser industry with the acquisition of KLH."

The net profit for the 2013 financial year is EUR 3.0 million, equivalent to a rate of return of 2.9 percent (previous year 3.4 percent). Earnings per share outstanding consequently came to EUR 0.47. The Board of Management and Supervisory Board will propose to the Shareholders' Meeting in May 2014 that a dividend of EUR 0.20 per share outstanding be distributed. "This brings us much closer to our future goal of distributing 50 percent of the consolidated net profit, provided no current investment requirements or major acquisitions stand in the way of using financial resources in this way," declared Dirk Engel, Finance Director of technotrans AG.

The number of employees in the technotrans Group increased from 662 to 777 in the course of 2013.

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PRESS RELEASE: technotrans AG: technotrans -2-

Ann Coulter on Hannity-: 2014 CPAC - No Anti-Amnesty Speakers Allowed.
Ann and Sean Hannity talk about Chris Christie and why he got a standing ovation. "It was a #39;screw you #39; to the media." She also declared that the only people...

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Ann Coulter on Hannity-: 2014 CPAC - No Anti-Amnesty Speakers Allowed. - Video