(Ad hoc press release)
Berlin, 27.03.2003. Eckert & Ziegler AG, a specialist in medical and industrial isotope applications, has concluded the 2002 financial year with a profit of 0.11 EUR per share (0.3 million EUR) despite a fourfold increase in its development expenditure to more then 3.4 Mio. EUR. A strengthening of the liquid funds and securities position by 0.3 million EUR to 8.5 million EUR was also achieved in spite of the dividend payment in May of last year. However, sales fell back in 2002 by a nominal 5% to 31.2 million EUR, mainly because of the week dollar and the bankruptcy of a major wholesaler.
While growth was maintained in the oncology, cardiology and nuclear imaging divisions with sales increases of between 3% and 25%, the industry division was the only part of the business to suffer a real decline, brought about by special factors in 2001.
The main vehicle for Eckert & Ziegler AG's future growth will continue to be implants for the minimally invasive treatment of prostate cancer. In addition, in the medium term, the Board is anticipating a stimulus to growth to come from the application of isotope technology in components used in security and defense and for nuclear medicine. For the current year, the Board forecasts earnings per share of around 0.30 EUR.
The Board of Directors