(Ad hoc press release)
Berlin, 16.08.2000. Eckert & Ziegler Strahlen- und Medizintechnik AG, Berlin, a leading manufacturer of innovative, radioactive components for the treatment of cancer and restenosis, continued to accelerate its growth with sales of 9.1 Mio EUR for the six months ended in the year 2000. The six month sales figures nearly achieved total sales for the year 1999. Results from ordinary activities climbed by 205% to 1.2 Mio EUR compared with the prior year period, net income increased by 0.8 Mio EUR to 0.6 Mio EUR. Cash flow rose by 86% to 2.5 mio EUR. The essential engine of growth was oncological radiation sources (remedies against restenosis), whose sales quintupled compared with the prior year period. Sales of cardiological sources (remedies against cardiac diseases) showed an increase of 38% over the first half of 1999. The product groups standards, industrial and calibration sources achieved a sales growth of 63% compared with the first half-year of the prior year. Even when calculated on a dollar basis, i.e., eliminating the favorable exchange rate fluctuation, we still find 40% growth over the prior year - encouraging growth rates clearly exceeding expectations. The strong sales increases were also attributed to the products of the radiation sources business of DuPont Pharmaceuticals Company which was acquired by Eckert & Ziegler in June, 2000. For the current fiscal year, the board of directors expects sales of approximately 21 Mio EUR and a result after taxes of approximately 2.2 Mio EUR.
The Board of Directors