Berlin, 05.05.2009. In the first quarter 2009 the Berlin based Eckert & Ziegler Strahlen- und Medizintechnik AG (ISIN DE0005659700), a specialist for isotope technology in medicine, science and industry, in the first quarter 2009 set new records with sales of EUR 24 million and Group profits of EUR 2.2 million, thus far exceeding the existing operative records. Compared with last year's period, sales increased by EUR 10 million, or 71%. Compared with the first quarter of 2008, the profit after tax and minority interests actually increased by a factor of 2.5 when the special effect resulting from the IBt consolidation is excluded. The operative cash flow achieved EUR 3.4 million and also set a new record. Earnings per share amount to EUR 0.61.
In the Nuclear Imaging and Industry segment, sales more than doubled from EUR 5.9 million to EUR 12.6 million. This resulted from the combined effects of the inclusion of Nuclitec sales, increased sales in robust oil well logging sources, and a USD exchange rate improvement of 10%. Despite the loss of sales in Italy, the Radiopharmaceuticals segment grew by 56%. The two main product categories, Modular-Lab and contrast media for positron emission tomography (PET), continued their growth trend from the previous quarters. Added to this were Nuclitec's initial Auriga sales. Sales in the Therapy segment rose by 30%. The driving forces here with more than 20% were implants for treating prostate cancer, and tumor radiation equipment, for which sales doubled from the previous year.
As in the previous periods, the main source of earnings was the Nuclear Imaging and Industry segment, which contributed EUR 1.6 million to the profit after tax. Due to economies of scale, the increase in sales led to over-proportional increases in the operating profit/loss and in the profit before and after tax, so that the segment's contribution to the Group's profit almost tripled. These results also show that Nuclitec fits into the cost structure very well and also adds to profits. In the Radiopharmaceuticals segment, the earnings position continued to improve. It now posted a clear profit. Gains from the deconsolidation of the Italian stake further increased profits. For the first time since the inclusion of IBt, the Therapy segment was able to show a clear profit. Restructuring was completed successfully, and the expanded business is profitable.
For the current year, the company expects further growth, in particular sales growth, to roughly EUR 100 million. Eckert & Ziegler AG, which in 2008 achieved sales of EUR 72 million with approx. 410 employees, is one of the world's largest providers of isotope component technology for radiation therapy and nuclear medicine.
The Board of Directors