(Ad hoc press release)
Berlin, January 5, 2015 – The Radiation Therapy segment of Eckert & Ziegler Strahlen- und Medizintechnik AG was unable to match the sales levels of previous years in the last quarter of 2014 due to the economic and political crisis in Eastern Europe. Compared to the period from 2011 to 2013, annual sales in the former CIS countries were down by half to almost EUR 4 million in 2014, which means total sales for the segment were merely on par with the previous year’s figure of EUR 28 million. In view of the low capacity utilization in production and a business development in the United States which proved more challenging than expected overall, the Radiation Therapy segment posted a loss on earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of almost EUR 3 million − as opposed to an expected breakeven − based on preliminary results.
The other segments within the Group are unable to fully compensate for this operating loss. The Group Executive Committee therefore forecasts a 30% decline in earnings per share to around
EUR 1.25 instead of the previously estimated increase to EUR 2.00, though this excludes potential positive special effects from the non-operating business. The definitive results will be published on March 26, 2015.
Your contact:
Eckert & Ziegler AG, Karolin Riehle, Investor Relations
Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
Tel.: +49 (0) 30 / 94 10 84-138, karolin.riehle@ezag.de, www.ezag.com