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Eckert & Ziegler: Record sales and a strong capital flow

Berlin, 3 November 2009. In the third quarter of 2009 the Berlin based Eckert & Ziegler Strahlen- und Medizintechnik AG (ISIN DE0005659700), a specialist for isotope technology in medicine, science and industry, was able to increase its sales to a new record of EUR 25.5 million (+37%). Overall sales for the first nine months reached EUR 77.8 million (+51%). The profit achieved after tax and minority interests was EUR 5.3 million, an increase of 79% (EUR +2.4 million) compared with the same nine-month period in the previous year if the special effect resulting from the IBt consolidation in that period is excluded. The profit per share for the three quarters of 2009 taken together equals EUR 1.44

The operative cash flow figure, which is largely impervious to the special effect, also grew strongly. Over the nine months, it increased to 15% of the volume of sales, reaching EUR 12.0 million. Almost half of this, i.e. EUR 5.5 million, is derived from the 3rd quarter of 2009. This value was achieved without payments of EUR 3 million due from IBt's Russian business during the quarter being made. They were not made until October. Due to the high plowback levels, the cash reserves as at 30 September increased by EUR 7.5 million to EUR 14.8 million, despite significant investments being made.

In the Nuclear Imaging and Industry segment, sales have virtually doubled, increasing from EUR 22.2 million to EUR 39.6 million. This resulted from the combined effects of the inclusion of Nuclitec sales and increased sales of robust drill hole sources, as well as a USD exchange rate improvement of 6% compared to the previous year. Sales in the Therapy segment increased by 26%, or approx. EUR 5 million. The drivers of growth were above all the tumor irradiation devices, sales of which increased by 55%, due in particular to increased sales to Eastern Europe. Despite the loss of sales in Italy, the Radiopharmaceuticals segment grew by 38%. Both main product categories, Modular-Lab and diagnostics for positron emission tomography (PET), continued their uninterrupted growth trend from the previous quarters. Added to this were Nuclitec's aurigamedical sales. The Nuclear Imaging and Industry segment was still the main source of revenues, as in previous periods. Sales have increased by 79%. Approximately a third of that, i.e. 25% growth, can be seen in profits after tax and minority interests, which have increased by EUR 0.9 million compared with the same period last year, and which now stand at EUR 4.3 million. The Therapy segment still continued to be an earnings machine in the third quarter, and after minority interests it contributed about EUR 1.5 million to earnings. Despite high launch costs for new products, the Radiopharmacy segment also remained above the profit target.

The company expects sales of about EUR 100 million and earnings per share of about EUR 1.80 for the current year. Eckert & Ziegler AG focuses on cutting edge technologies in the field of radioisotopes, and with a head count of about 520 employees it is one of the largest manufacturers in the world of radioactive components for the science, medicine and industry sectors. Eckert & Ziegler will present the complete figures during the German Equity Forum in Frankfurt on 11 November 2009 (at 11.15 a.m. in the Zurich room of the Frankfurt trade fair convention center: www.eigenkapitalforum.de).

The Board of Directors