BOI Bank Irel13.375

RNS Number:4658G
Biotrace International PLC
20 July 2006


For Immediate Release:                                              20 July 2006





                           BIOTRACE INTERNATIONAL PLC

                   ("Biotrace", "the Company" or "the Group")



                            Half Year Trading Update





Biotrace International Plc, a leading manufacturer of industrial microbiology
products, announces that it will publish its interim results for the six months
ended 30 June 2006 on Wednesday 6 September 2006 and provides an update on
trading.



Ian Johnson, Chief Executive of Biotrace, commenting on trading in the first
half of the year, said:



"Biotrace has made steady progress in the first half of the year laying the
foundations for a strong second half performance.  MicroSafe, which was acquired
in September last year, has added significantly to Group revenues in the period
to the end of June and secured further substantial contracts for the defence and
pharmaceutical divisions  which will fuel further growth in the second half.



"I am pleased to report modest growth in the food and environment division in
the first half, reversing the negative trend evident over the previous 12
months, despite continuing tough trading conditions and increasing pricing
pressures across Europe.



"The Group's pharmaceutical, personal care and cosmetics division has expanded
significantly in the period, predominantly as a result of the contribution from
Microsafe.  A stronger second half is anticipated arising from the fulfilment of
orders already received for delivery in the latter half of the year.



"Defence sales to the UK Ministry of Defence were lower than the corresponding
period last year and remain difficult to predict, however, sales to overseas
military and homeland defence organisations continue to be more robust and will
be boosted in the second half by the recently announced order from the NATO
Maintenance & Supply Agency.



"Cash generation in the first half has been particularly strong with operational
cash flow enhanced by the cash generated from the sale of the HQ property and
the disposal of the Ruskinn life science business.  As a result, the Group's net
debt position at the end of the half year has substantially improved.



"Overall, the Board believes that the Company will perform in line with it's
full year expectations and remains confident about the Group's future
prospects."



                                    - ENDS -



For further information, please contact:
Biotrace International
Ian Johnson, Chief Executive Officer                  Tel : +44 (0) 1656 641 400
Peter Morgan, Finance Director

Buchanan Communications
Tim Anderson/Mary-Jane Johnson                        Tel: +44 (0)20 7466 5000







Notes to editors:

Biotrace International Plc is a leading manufacturer and supplier of industrial
microbiology products.  The Company is organised into three business segments:
Food & Environmental, Pharmaceutical, Personal Care & Cosmetics and Defence.
The Group's proprietary technologies are used by most of the world's leading
food and beverage manufacturers who rely on Biotrace products as an essential
part of their quality control procedures. Other industrial customers include
pharmaceutical and personal care product/cosmetics manufacturers together with
environmental/industrial process water clients.  The Defence segment provides
systems and consumables for the rapid detection of biological weapons for
military and homeland security organisations.



Formed in 1988 and floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1993, Biotrace had
total revenues of over #29 million in 2005.  The Company is headquartered in
Bridgend, UK with manufacturing and sales operations worldwide. Visit Biotrace
at www.biotrace.com




                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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