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Berlin, 03.08.2010.
Eckert & Ziegler: Highest quarterly profit in Q2 2010
Berlin, August 3, 2010 - Berlin-based Eckert & Ziegler Strahlen- und Medizintechnik AG (ISIN DE0005659700), a firm specializing in medical use of radioactivity, recorded sales of EUR 27.2 million in the second quarter of 2010 (average per quarter 2009: EUR 25.3 million). Compared to the second quarter of 2009, net income after tax and minority interests increased by 44% to EUR 2.6 million. This means that the past quarter recorded the highest profit in the history of the company. Despite a 38% increase in the number of shares compared to the previous year's quarter, the income per share was increased by 4% to EUR 0.50/share.
In the first half of 2010, sales of EUR 52.9 million were achieved, an increase of EUR 0.5 million or 1% over the same period the previous year. Over the same period, the net income after tax and minority interests increased by EUR 1.2 million, or 29%, to EUR 5.1 million. However, since the number of shares increased by 42%, the earnings per share fell by 8% to EUR 0.99/share.
Once again, the most successful segment was the Industry segment, which we have renamed "Isotope Products" segment. For comparison purposes, in 2010 the following explanations once again add sales and income from the new Environmental Services segment to the Isotope Products segment, in which the values were still included in 2009. Revenue increased by 9%, the unadjusted margin by 25% and the EBIT by 65%. The successful integration of Nuclitec continues. The synergies will become more obvious once restructuring expenses no longer apply. Compared to the first half of 2009, the segment was also able to report another increase in sales in the area of industrial components.
With sales of EUR 14.8 million and an EBIT of EUR 2.4 million, the Therapy segment achieved a very good result in the first half of the year. Compared to halved figures excluding special effects for the previous year, the 2010 figures amount to a 2% sales decrease and an 11% increase in the EBIT. The reduced minority interests had a significant positive effect after the takeover bid. In the second quarter of 2009, these still amounted to 59%, while in the second quarter of 2010, minority shareholders of IBt. S.A. only accounted for 28% of the revenue after tax.
Compared to the first half of 2009, the Radiopharma segment managed to increase sales by 3% to EUR 10.0 million while keeping costs almost constant. In addition, there was extraordinary revenue of several hundred thousand euros from transfers of shares and borrowing of Eckert & Ziegler EURO-PET Berlin GmbH. Overall, the EBIT increased from EUR 0.5 million to EUR 1.1 million.
For the financial year 2010, the target for sales is EUR 105 million. The Executive Board is keeping its profit forecast at EUR 9.5 million (EUR 1.80 per share).
The Eckert & Ziegler Group, with around 530 employees, is one of the world's largest providers of isotope technology components for radiotherapy and nuclear medicine.
The Board of Director
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Berlin, 07.07.2010.
Eckert & Ziegler: first patient treated for Brain cancer using IsoSeed®
Berlin, 07.07.2010. The Berlin-based Eckert & Ziegler Strahlen- und Medizintechnik AG (ISIN DE0005659700), a firm specializing in medical use of radioactivity, has delivered for the first time through its Belgian subsidiary IBt Bebig its product IsoSeed® for the treatment of a brain tumor patient in the Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
Low radioactive, miniaturized seeds are used for brachytherapy, a treatment method where the radiation source is placed inside or next to the area requiring treatment. The intracerebral implantation of Iodine-125 seeds through a stereotactic guiding system puts seeds in an exactly defined tumor volume where they fight directly the tumor while sparing the healthy tissue. Compared to conventional radiation therapy techniques the use of radioactive implants shows significant economic and clinical advantages. On the one hand brachytherapy does not require large capital investments in treatment devices, on the other hand the implantation of seeds results in a significantly prolonged survival. The miniaturized IsoSeed® is today mostly used to treat early stage prostate cancer but is also registered for the treatment of other tumors.
"We are proud to see such a prestigious institution using our seeds. Like for the Breast Brachytherapy potential we were announcing recently, we look forward for the growing interest towards using IBt Bebig seeds for brain tumors. IBt Bebig is committed to help finding new ways to use brachytherapy as a treatment option", said Dr. Edgar Löffler, member of the Board of Directors and reponsible for the Therapy segment.
The Eckert & Ziegler Group, with around 520 employees, is one of the world's largest providers of isotope technology components for radiotherapy and nuclear medicine.
The Board of Director
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Berlin, 25.06.2010.
Eckert & Ziegler Becomes Main Supplier to Innovative Leukaemia Drug
Berlin, 25 June 2010. Eckert & Ziegler Strahlen- und Medizintechnik AG (ISIN DE0005659700) becomes the main supplier of the radioactive component to the cancer drug ZEVALIN of the American drug company Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: SPPI), Irvine, CA. As provided by a recently signed long-term contract, Eckert & Ziegler delivers the radioactive agent Yttrium-90 in the US with immediate effect for the production of ZEVALIN®. Yttrium-90-radiolabeled ZEVALIN was approved by the US FDA in February, 2002 for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory, low grade or follicular B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and in September, 2009 was approved for an expanded label to treat patients with previously untreated follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) who achieve a partial or complete response to first line chemotherapy.
Eckert & Ziegler's member of the Managing Board responsible for its radio-pharmaceuticals segment, Dr. André Heß, said: "We are glad to have been chosen by Spectrum Pharmaceuticals as the main supplier to this interesting product. The decisive factor, besides the high product quality of our Yttrium-90 was our flexible delivery capability that enables product delivery every weekday. For years we have produced Yttrium-90 of pharmaceutical quality in our production site in Braunschweig, Germany and have established an excellent reputation with our customers on various continents. As the demand grows we will also invest in new production facilities in the core markets."
Eckert & Ziegler operates a number of production sites for radio-pharmaceuticals in Europe and, besides Fluor-18-based radio-diagnostic products for nuclear-medical imaging (PET), also markets its Yttrium-90 in Europe as the EMEA approved product "Yttriga", a precursor product of numerous radio-therapeutic products. It is, among other things, being used for the treatment of liver cancer. Eckert & Ziegler also provides synthesis technology and -Gallium-68-(PET) radio-nuclide generators for nuclear medical facilities worldwide.
Spectrum Pharmaceutical's Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President, Rajesh C. Shrotriya, MD, said: "The framework contract with Eckert & Ziegler further safeguards and enhances our supply chain to ZEVALIN for the radioactive isotope Yttrium-90. We will now be able to supply and administer ZEVALIN to patients 6 days a week, rather than the previous availability of only 2 days per week. The recent FDA approval for ZEVALIN in the 1st line setting has resulted in continued optimism on ZEVALIN's growth prospects. ZEVALIN has received a Category 1 recommendation from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network(R) Drugs and Biologic Compendium and we have expanded our sales force and are making progress toward a streamlined reimbursement standard in both the hospital and community setting for this important therapeutic."
About Eckert & Ziegler:
Eckert & Ziegler Strahlen- und Medizintechnik AG is a global isotope technology company and holding company for a number of specialized subsidiary companies in the field of processing of radioisotopes and of development, production, and marketing of isotope technology components, medical devices, and similar products. A public company listed as "EUZ" on the Deutsche Börse the group generated a turnover of EUR 101 million in 2009 and is one of the largest suppliers of radioactive components for radiation therapy and nuclear medicine, employing 520 employees worldwide. Please visit our Website at www.ezag.com for more information on Eckert & Ziegler.
About ZEVALIN® and the ZEVALIN® Therapeutic Regimen:
ZEVALIN (ibritumomab tiuxetan) is indicated for the treatment of patients with previously untreated follicular non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL), who achieve a partial or complete response to first-line chemotherapy. ZEVALIN is also indicated for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory, low-grade or follicular B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. ZEVALIN is a CD20-directed radiotherapeutic antibody. The ZEVALIN therapeutic regimen consists of three components: rituximab, Indium-111 (In-111) radiolabeled ZEVALIN for imaging, and Yttrium-90 (Y-90) radiolabeled ZEVALIN for therapy. The ZEVALIN therapeutic regimen is a form of cancer therapy called radioimmunotherapy. Radioimmunotherapy (RIT) is an innovative form of cancer treatment with a mechanism of action that is different from traditional chemotherapy. RIT builds on the combined effect of a targeted biologic monoclonal antibody augmented with the therapeutic effects of a beta-emitting radioisotope. Full prescribing information can be found at www.zevalin.com.
About Spectrum Pharmaceuticals:
Spectrum Pharmaceuticals is a commercial-stage biotechnology company with a focus in oncology and hematology. The Company's strategy is comprised of acquiring, developing and commercializing a broad and diverse pipeline of late-stage clinical and commercial products. In addition to continuing to build an efficient in-house clinical research organization with regulatory and data management capabilities, the Company has established a commercial infrastructure to market its drug portfolio. The Company markets two oncology drugs, ZEVALIN® and FUSILEV® and has two drugs in late stage development, apaziquone and belinostat, along with a diverse pipeline. The Company also leverages the expertise of its worldwide partners to assist in the execution of its strategy. For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.sppirx.com.
The Board of Director
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Berlin, 21.06.2010.
Eckert & Ziegler is awarded the Contract for Radiodiagnostics in Gdansk
Berlin, 21 June 2010. Eckert & Ziegler Strahlen- und Medizintechnik AG (ISIN DE0005659700), a specialist for special preparations for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer has been awarded the tendered contract for the regular supplies of radiodiagnostics to the Polish Medical University of Gdansk via its subsidiary Eckert & Ziegler f-con Deutschland GmbH. The contract valued at approx. Euro 1.3 million relates to the diagnostic substance fluor deoxyglucose (FDG), which is used for the reliable and quick diagnosis of the smallest tumours via positron emission computer-assisted tomography (PET). Due to its short half-life time FDG must be locally manufactured daily using cyclotrons, enabling fresh supplies to the clinics. The Managing Director, Axel Schmidt, declared: "Our tender was convincing because of our track record in Poland where we have been supplying Polish specialists in nuclear medicine with reliable deliveries of FDG for many years. Our intention, in addition to our market leadership in Germany and Poland, is to continue extending our manufacturing network and consolidating it with further production locations."
Eckert & Ziegler already has several radiopharmaceutical manufacturing locations in Germany and also markets, in addition to Fluor 18-based radiodiagnostics for nuclear medical imaging (PET), the licensed product Yttriga, a precursor of many radio therapeutics. In addition Eckert & Ziegler supplies nuclear medical facilities with synthesis technology and Gallium-68-radionuclide generators.
About Eckert & Ziegler
Eckert & Ziegler Strahlen- und Medizintechnik AG is a global isotope technology company and holding company for a number of specialized subsidiary companies in the field of processing of radioisotopes and of development, production, and marketing of isotope technology components, medical devices, and similar products. The quoted group generated a turnover of EUR 101 million in 2009 and is one of the largest suppliers of radioactive components for radiation therapy and nuclear medicine, employing 520 employees worldwide. Please visit our website at www.ezag.com for more information on Eckert & Ziegler.
The Board of Director
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Berlin, 17.06.2010.
Eckert & Ziegler sees potential in Breast Cancer Brachytherapy
Berlin, June 17, 2010 - The Berlin-based Eckert & Ziegler Strahlen- und Medizintechnik AG (ISIN DE0005659700), a firm specializing in medical use of radioactivity, today has announced through its Belgian subsidiary IBt BEBIG (International Brachytherapy S.A.) its first results on a radiobiological research program for monotherapy of early stage breast cancer utilizing permanent implant brachytherapy.
Currently, the common treatment of early breast cancer involves breast conserving surgery followed with External Beam Radiotherapy (EBRT) of the entire breast. Data suggest that in properly selected patients there is no need for the whole breast irradiation. Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation (APBI) is therefore investigated in clinical trials and might be even replaced by a monotherapy using permanent implant brachytherapy. For the patient, there is clearly a practical advantage to be treated by brachytherapy rather than by EBRT: a reduction of treatment time. A brachytherapy procedure is done in one day, while for EBRT patient needs to come 25 to 40 consecutive days for treatment sessions.
A scientific paper was published in June 2010 in The International Journal of Medical Physics (American Association of Physicists in Medicine) about the radiobiological investigation on dose and dose rate for permanent brachytherapy of breast using I-125 (Iodine) or Pd-103 (Palladium) sources (3). It addresses the question of what could be the appropriate dose and dose rate for permanent seed implants for breast cancer as monotherapy for early-stage breast cancer.
Today permanent brachytherapy is mostly used to treat prostate cancer, but there are now more and more interests to use this treatment option also for early stage breast cancer. In 2007, IBt Bebig already partnered with the University Hospital of Liège (CHU), Belgium, to do a series of trials as described in a scientific paper published in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology (4).
"It seems that based on our physical and radiobiological study, it exist a window of opportunity for permanent implants with low energy sources for the partial breast irradiation of early stage breast cancer", said Prof. Dimos Baltas, Department of Medical Physics and Engineering, Strahlenklinik, Klinikum Offenbach GmbH. Professor Baltas is member of several national, European and international Organizations, Committees and Task Groups with a long track record in the field of research in brachytherapy. He is co-author of the Textbook "The Physics of Modern Brachytherapy for Oncology".
"This new report shows the growing interest towards permanent seed brachytherapy to cure cancer to other body site than only prostate. IBt Bebig is committed to help finding new ways to use brachytherapy as a treatment option. By doing so we fulfill completely our
mission: Contributing to saving lives !", said Dr. Edgar Löffler, Managing Director of IBt Bebig and one of the authors of the report.
"As worldwide there are around 0.8 million estimated new cases of prostate cancer per year and about 1.3 million new cases of breast cancer, there is a potential for IBt Bebig to basically double its market size" said Dr. Gunnar Mann, Managing Director of IBt Bebig.
The Eckert & Ziegler Group, with around 520 employees, is one of the world's largest providers of isotope technology components for radiotherapy and nuclear medicine.
3) Dimos Baltas, Georgia Lymperopoulou, Edgar Löffler, Panayiotis Mavroidis, "A radiobiological investigation on dose and dose rate for permanent implant brachytherapy of breast using I-125 or Pd-103 sources", Medical Physics, Vol. 37, No. 6, June 2010.
4) N. Jansen, J. M. Deneufbourg, and P. Nickers, "Adjuvant stereotactic permanent seed breast implant: A boost series in view of partial breast irradiation," International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics, Volume 67, 1052-1058, March 2007.
The Board of Director
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Berlin, 01.06.2010.
Eckert & Ziegler: Major Order for Prostate Implants
Berlin, June 1, 2010 - The Berlin-based Eckert & Ziegler Strahlen- und Medizintechnik AG (ISIN DE0005659700), a firm specializing in medical use of radioactivity, has gained over its Belgian subsidiary IBt BEBIG (International Brachytherapy S.A.) a major order in France for the supply of medical devices for prostate cancer treatment.
During the next three years the specialist in radiation therapy will deliver miniature implants, typically used to treat early stage prostate cancer, to specialised hospitals in Angers, Caen, Nice, Strasbourg and Rouen. The multiple million Euro contract contains also the supply of the renowned Institut Curie in Paris, where brachytherapy was born. Presumably more than 1,000 patients will benefit from the low-level radioactive implants.
The commissioning hospitals are part of Fédération Nationale des Centres de Lutte Contre le Cancer (FNCLCC), a consortium of 20 well-known French cancer research centers, in which the state activities in the area of cancer treatment and research are coordinated.
The Eckert & Ziegler Group, with around 520 employees, is one of the world's largest providers of isotope technology components for radiotherapy and nuclear medicine.
The Board of Director
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Berlin, 04.05.2010.
Eckert & Ziegler: Earnings Increase Again After Restructuring Expenses No Longer Apply
Berlin, May 4, 2010 - Berlin-based Eckert & Ziegler Strahlen- und Medizintechnik AG (ISIN DE0005659700), a firm specializing in medical use of radioactivity, increased its profit after taxes and minority interests to EUR 2.5 million in the first quarter of 2010, an increase of 17% over the first quarter of 2009 and an increase of 35% when compared to the operating quarterly average in 2009. In spite of a 36% increase in the number of shares in comparison to 2009, earnings per share remained constant at EUR 0.49 (operating average per quarter in 2009: EUR 0.49 / share). The Berlin-based group recorded a slight increase in sales to EUR 25.7 million (previous year's quarter: EUR 24.3 million).
The most successful segment was again the Industry segment. Revenue increased by 13%, the gross margin by 34% and the EBIT by 91% to EUR 4.3 million. The successful integration of Nuclitec continues. The synergies become obvious once restructuring expenses no longer apply. The segment was also able to report strong shipments of high-margin robust drill hole sources. Environmental Services, which relate to taking back, reprocessing, recycling and disposal of low level radioactive waste, are still included in the Industry segment for comparison purposes. No new business was expected here in the first quarter of 2010, and with EUR 1.3 million in sales and expenses for preparations for new business that led to a small loss of EUR 46,000, this area developed within the framework of expectations. The annual sales target of the existing business (taking back sources and disposal of low level radioactive hospital waste) is EUR 5 million. In the segment reporting of the I/2010 quarterly report, the numbers for the new "Environmental Services" segment are shown separately for the first time.
With sales of EUR 6.4 million and an EBIT of EUR 0.6 million, the Therapy segment experienced a quarter that was slightly below average. The relative reduction in sales in the first quarter of a year is normal and is based on strong sales in the last quarter of 2009. Sales and income from the Russian project are also absent, but will surely contribute to results in the rest of the year. Since the takeover bid and the accompanying increase in IBt shares did not become effective until the middle of March 2010, no significant reduction in minority interests could be recorded. On the contrary, the first quarter includes one time extraordinary expenses of 0.3 mm EUR for take-over bid cost.
The Radiopharmaceuticals segment is at the level of the previous year in terms of revenue and its cost positions. Half of the considerable increase in EBIT to EUR 0.7 million can be traced to income from transfers of shares and borrowings from Eckert & Ziegler EURO-PET Berlin GmbH.
The Executive Board and Supervisory Board will propose an increase in dividends from EUR 0.30 to EUR 0.45 per share at the Annual General Meeting on May 20, 2010.
For the current year, the company expects a result of around EUR 1.80 / share with a 36% increase in the number of shares. If the increase in the number of shares is not taken into account, this would correspond to growth of around 24%.
The Eckert & Ziegler Group, with around 520 employees, is one of the world's largest providers of isotope technology components for radiotherapy and nuclear medicine.
The Board of Director
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Berlin, 01.04.2010.
Eckert & Ziegler acquires remaining Shares in a Berlin Pharmaceutical Company
Berlin, 01.04.2010 - In the course of a consolidation of minority shareholding and the simplification of the corporate organisation Eckert & Ziegler Strahlen- und Medizintechnik AG (ISIN DE0005659700) takes over the remaining 30% shares of senior shareholders of EURO-PET Berlin Zyklotron GmbH Berlin (EURO-PET) and several shareholder loans. The pharmaceutical company on the premises of the scientific campus Adlershof which specialises in the production of short-lived isotopes for nuclear imaging thus becomes a 100% affiliate of Eckert & Ziegler AG. EURO-PET remains affiliated to its senior shareholders by co-operations in sales and the licensing of new drugs which were agreed upon in the scope of the assignment of the interests.
With the complete takeover of EURO-PET Eckert & Ziegler intends to continue to boost its position on the growing market for radioactive pharmaceutical products. The Holding already has a number of radiopharmaceutical production locations in Germany and markets the approved product Yttriga®, a preliminary stage of many radiotherapy treatments, as well as fluorine-18-based radiodiagnostic compounds for nuclear medical imaging (PET). In addition, Eckert & Ziegler supplies nuclear-imaging facilities around the world with synthesis technology and gallium-68 radionuclide generators.
PET is the abbreviation for positron emission tomography and describes a technique which uses a special camera to make the very smallest quantities of a slightly radioactive contrast agent visible and it is used for diagnosis. This powerful and ground-breaking technology is becoming more and more important in the diagnosis of cancers and neurologic diseases like Alzheimer's because it spares the patient a burdensome marathon of diagnosis and operations carried out only on the basis of a tentative diagnosis.
The Eckert & Ziegler group with some 520 employees belongs to the largest suppliers of isotope technology components for radiation therapy and nuclear medicine world-wide. In the previous fiscal year 2009 the company made a turnover of more than EUR 100 million and earnings of some EUR 13.3 million.
The Board of Director
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Berlin, 30.03.2010.
Eckert & Ziegler: Bumper year despite a depressive economic mood
Berlin, March 30, 2010 - The Berlin-based Eckert & Ziegler Strahlen- und Medizintechnik AG (ISIN DE0005659700), a specialist for radioactivity in medicine has tripled its profits in the fiscal year 2009 - and for the first time was able to overcome the EUR 100 million sales point. Including special effects the group earned EUR 13.3 million (previous year: EUR 4.5m) after tax and minority interests in the fiscal year 2009. The profit from operating activities, i.e. the result excluding special effects increased from EUR 3.4 million in the previous year by 116% to EUR 7.5 million here and now. On the basis of an average number of shares amounting to EUR 3.8 million the total annual net profit corresponds to EUR 3.50 per share, the surplus from operating activities to a sum of EUR 1.97 per share. The annual sales increased for the sixth successive time to a new record of EUR 101 million (previous year: EUR 72 million, +42%). The Group has thus more than doubled its sales over the past five years. On average the business volume has increased by 25% per annum since 2005. The greatest jump in sales at 74% or EUR 22 million growth was achieved by the segment Industry where the inclusion of the former competitor Nuclitec had the greatest impact. The segment Radiopharmacy primarily increased, by 32% to EUR 19 million, by the inclusion of the Yttrium-90 sales of Nuclitec. The sales of the Russia project of the segment Therapy were only included at a reduced volume in 2009. Nevertheless, the sales increased by 12% to EUR 30 million.
The segment with the highest yield of the three-division Group in 2009 was the segment Industry with its components for industrial, scientific and imaging applications which contributed EUR 1.44 per share or EUR 5.5 million to the annual net profit of the Group. The segment Therapy contributed (without special effects) towards the consolidated profit EUR 0.30 per share which corresponds to a share of 15%. Without the minority interests, the result would be EUR 0.56 per share. The segment Radiopharmacy in which high development expenses burden the result, the loss compared to the previous year could be greatly reduced to EUR -0.1 million or EUR -0.02 per share. Finally, the Holding registers a profit before special effects of EUR 0.9 million or EUR 0.25 per share. The EBIT (Earnings before interest, tax and minorities) adjusted by the special effects more than doubled, from EUR 6.9 million to EUR 14.6 million.
Balance sheet marked by acquisition and special effects Deep down, the balance sheet changes can be ascribed to the following facts: The acquisition of Nuclitec changed the balance sheet compared to 31.12.2008 almost under every single item. The capital increases and the 'Russia Project' led to balance sheet extensions. Thus the cash on the asset side increased - and on the equity and liabilities side the equity increased and by the delimitation of the Russia yields also the item "advance payments received". The release of accruals from the commitment surplus of the IBt takeover bid, and the IBt special effects in connection with the capitalized deferred taxes, the changes in the goodwill and the minority shares also markedly influenced the balance sheet. Particularly due to the capital increases and the annual profit the equity-to-assets ratio increased from 43% to 54%. The cash flow from operating activities achieved a new record of EUR 22.1 million which more than doubled compared to the value of 2008. Together with the revenues from the second capital increase of the year, not yet invested at the end of the year, the resulting operative capital flow decisively contributed towards the liquid funds of the Group being increased by EUR 36.4 million to EUR 43.7 million
The Executive Board and the Supervisory Board will propose an increase in dividends from Euro 0.30 to EUR 0.45 per share at the Annual General Meeting convened on 20th May 2010. For the current year the company expects a result of approx. EUR 1.80 per share considering an increase of shares by 40%. Without considering the increased number of shares this would correspond with a growth of some 28%. With its 520 employees the Eckert & Ziegler Group is one of the largest global suppliers of isotope technology components for radiotherapy and nuclear medicine.
The Board of Director
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Berlin, 24.03.2010.
Eckert & Ziegler Finalizes Take Over Bid IBt
Berlin, 24 March 2010. At the closing of the acceptance period of the takeover bid on 17 March 2010, 6,042,144 IBt shares, all of the 25,000 IBt beneficiary shares B and 120,400 IBt warrants have been tendered in the takeover bid.
As a result, Eckert & Ziegler (ISIN DE0005659700) now holds 12,635,594 IBt shares, 25,000 IBt beneficiary shares B and 120,400 IBt warrants, or 56 % of IBt's voting rights. SMI holds 5,000,000 IBt beneficiary shares A, or 22 % of IBt's voting rights. As announced in their transparency declaration of 6 January 2010, Eckert & Ziegler and SMI are acting in concert in the framework of the takeover bid.
Payment
Payment of the consideration for the IBt shares, IBt beneficiary shares B and IBt warrants shall be made by the receiving and paying agent KBC Securities, on 7 April 2010, directly to the beneficiaries or via their financial institution.
The Board of Director
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Berlin, 24.03.2010.
Eckert & Ziegler: Change in the Management of IBt Bebig
Berlin, March 24, 2010 - IBt Bebig, an affiliated company of Eckert & Ziegler (ISIN DE0005659700) announced today that the CEO, Mr François Blondel, and the Company have decided to end their collaboration.
As a result, Mr François Blondel will resign, with immediate effect, from all of his duties and responsibilities within the Group, whether as a Director of IBt s.a. or of its subsidiaries.
Dr. Edgar Löffler and Dr. Gunnar Mann, directors of IBt, have been appointed as the new persons in charge of the daily management of the company. They will take over the responsibilities of Mr. Blondel and manage IBt jointly, each in his capacity as Managing Director.
The Board of Director
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Berlin, 24.03.2010.
Eckert & Ziegler to Recommend Dividend Payment
Berlin, 24 March 2010 - The Executive Board and the Supervisory Board of Eckert & Ziegler (ISIN DE0005659700) have decided on today's Supervisory Board meeting to recommend a dividend payment of 0.45 EUR per share (previous year: 0.30 EUR per share) to the shareholder meeting on 20 May 2010. It applies, including all shares from the capital increases of 2009, for some 5.3 million shares entitled to dividend. An annual profit of the group of 7.4 million EUR without special effects is expected. Further details will be published on 30 March 2010 in Berlin.
The Board of Director
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Berlin, 23.02.2010.
Eckert & Ziegler: Travel grant for young researchers in nuclear medicine
Berlin, 23 February 2010. The Eckert & Ziegler/EANM abstract award is entering the third round. Up to 11th April 2010 young scientists can again participate in the competition with their innovative works in the field of nuclear medicine. Every year this travel grant is designed to support young scientists and doctoral students who seek to present the results of their work to larger audiences during the annual congress of the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) in October 2010. The five travel grants, each endowed with 1,000 EUR, will be offered by Eckert & Ziegler AG (ISIN DE0005659700), one of the leading European manufacturers of isotope products and the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM). The award winners will be selected in cooperation with EANM. The five winners will receive their awards on 13th October 2010 during the EANM congress in Vienna.
"In presenting the Eckert & Ziegler/EANM abstract award we wish to encourage young researchers to present their ideas to a wider audience and to collaborate more in exchanging ideas with other researchers engaged in the field of nuclear medicine. We hope that this will help to ensure that the enormous progress which has been made in medical imaging can soon be transformed into more precise, faster or cheaper methods of diagnosis and therapy", explained Dr Andreas Eckert, Chairman of the Board at Eckert & Ziegler.
The group sees considerable future potential in the further development of nuclear medical diagnostic techniques, especially based on the more widespread use of so-called hybrid cameras. These cameras combine different image processes - including Positron Emission Topography (PET). The quality and the information content of the images are taking on completely new dimensions and are enabling the development of new treatments and operational control processes.
Conditions for participation: All EANM members who are not older than 38 years of age at the time of application are entitled to participate. The applications can be submitted electronically via http://eanm10.eanm.org. Application deadline is 11th April 2010.
About Eckert & Ziegler: The Eckert & Ziegler Group, that achieved a turnover of approx. 102 million EUR in 2009 with around 520 employees, is one of the world's largest providers of isotope component technology for radiation therapy and nuclear medicine. Eckert & Ziegler is supporting the greater use of hybrid systems by expanding its production sites for radioactive contrast agents and by developing automated synthesis modules in which scientists can produce new diagnostic substances with the requisite pharmaceutical quality.
The Board of Director
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Berlin, 22.02.2010.
Eckert & Ziegler: Imminent start of the acceptance period for the mandatory takeover bid on IBt
Berlin, February 22, 2010 - The Eckert & Ziegler Strahlen- und Medizintechnik AG (ISIN DE0005659700) announces that the acceptance period for the mandatory takeover bid in cash for IBt during which the IBt shareholders can sell their actions for 3,64 EUR will run from 23 February 2010 until 9 March 2010 (inclusive). The results of the takeover bid shall be published on 16 March 2010. The bid is jointly submitted with SMI Steglitz MedInvest UG (SMI). For more details, please consult the approved prospectus and the memorandum in response, once it is available at www.ezag.de
The Board of Director
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Berlin, 18.02.2010.
Eckert & Ziegler: Sales, Profits and Cash Flow at Record Levels
Berlin, 18 February 2010 - According to preliminary results (unaudited), Berlin-based Eckert & Ziegler Strahlen- und Medizintechnik AG (ISIN DE0005659700), a specialist for isotope technology in medicine, science and industry, achieved sales growth of 42% to EUR 102 million (EUR 72 million) for the fiscal year 2009. The same period saw an almost threefold increase in the annual net profit from just under EUR 5 million to round EUR 14 million, or roughly EUR 3.58 per share. Note that the figures for 2009 include approximately EUR 6.2 million in positive special effects for accrual closeouts and extraordinary legal fees associated with the takeover bid for International Brachytherapy S.A (IBt) launched at the end of the year. Excluding special effects, the annual net profit more than doubled from EUR 3.4 million to EUR 7.4 million, or roughly EUR 1.95 per share, taking into account also the capital increases. Liquid assets rose by EUR 36 million from EUR 7 million to EUR 43 million. Of the increase, EUR 21 million were assets raised in the last capital increase that had not yet been invested as of the balance sheet date. Even more positive was the contribution from the operating cash flow, which almost tripled compared to the previous year's value to EUR 23 million.
Explanation:
The largest growth component was contributed by the Therapy segment. Sales rose by 10% to EUR 30 million. Following losses in the previous year due to restructuring measures, the revitalized segment came back to post substantial profits. In addition to the long-term improved financial performance, increased sales, in particular of Afterloaders in Eastern Europe, as well as the Russian joint venture resonated positively. These developments, coupled with re-entry into the American market, have generated exceptional prospects for future growth.
The Industry segment generated the highest sales growth and the largest absolute contribution to earnings. Sales rose by 73% to EUR 52 million, while the annual net profit rose by 26% to EUR 5.3 million. The factors driving growth were the consolidation of former competitor Nuclitec as well as continued increases in sales of oil well logging sources.
With a sales increase of 31% to EUR 20 million, the Radiopharmaceuticals segment posted a profit for the first time. This segment, too, profited from the Nuclitec acquisition, which included the Auriga division.
All figures are provisional pending the final audit and financial statements by the supervisory board.
The Board of Director
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Berlin, 21.01.2010.
Eckert & Ziegler Associate Company IBt with Record Results
Berlin, 21. January 2010 - Eckert & Ziegler associate company International Brachytherapy S.A. has reported in its preliminary numbers for 2009 record results for revenues (32.5 million EUR), net profits (exceeding 4.8 million EUR) and cash levels (exceeding 9 million EUR).
For details see also www.ibt-bebig.eu or www.ibt-bebig.eu/en/sidenavigation/investors_relations/ir_news/ press_releases.html
The Board of Director
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Berlin, 20.01.2010.
Eckert & Ziegler: Court Confirms Mandatory Take-Over Bid for IBt
Berlin, January 20, 2010 - The Court of Appeal in Brussels has rejected Eckert & Ziegler's (ISIN DE0005659700) appeal against an injunction of Belgian financial regulator CBFA and confirmed the legitimacy of the requested mandatory take-over bid. It also asked Eckert & Ziegler to pay litigation cost in the amount of 20,186 EUR. The court decision is otherwise not expected to have material consequences for the current take-over bid, and will not affect, for example, the price or the valuation of IBt. Eckert & Ziegler had already voluntarily included the requests of the Belgian financial regulator into its offer. Since the verdict denies a material interest for the claim of Creafund, Eckert & Ziegler assumes that the decision will actually conclude all litigation related to the take-over bid.
The Board of Director
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Berlin, 15.01.2010.
Eckert & Ziegler: Federal German Office for Radiation recommends retrieval of the radioactive waste from the Asse mine
Berlin, 15.01.2010. The German Federal Office for Radiation today has made an official recommendation to salvage all of the radioactive waste from the storage area in the Asse mine that is close to collapse. Afterwards, the 126,000 barrels-worth of low- to medium-grade waste shall be finally stored in the Konrad pit, a disused iron ore mine in Salzgitter. The management of Eckert & Ziegler AG (ISIN DE0005659700) sees in its appraisal the recommendation from the Federal Office as confirmation that there will be considerable demand over the next few years for services dealing with processing and finalising the storage of low-level radioactive waste in Lower Saxony. The management is confident that its newly-formed Kompetenzzentrum für sichere Entsorgung GmbH (KSE) is, due to its expertise, its large storage area and capacity, extremely well positioned to contribute in the decommissioning of the Asse site and the safe disposal of these hazardous substances.
The new business area of Environmental Services, to which KSE is attributed, has only existed since the start of the year as a own segment within the company. It has its roots in the reprocessing of medical and industrial radiation sources for cancer treatment and metrology. Eckert & Ziegler is one of the largest global manufacturers of such components and has operated for years in the retrieval and safe disposal of radioactive substances. Several containers that were reconditioned by processes developed by Eckert & Ziegler have already been recognised by the German Federal Office for Radiation as fault-free storage in accordance with the final storage conditions at Konrad. Neither the company nor any of its affiliates or associates were involved in the final storage of radioactive waste in the Asse during the 1970s.
The Board of Director
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Berlin, 08.01.2010.
Eckert & Ziegler Officially Requests Special IBt Shareholder Meeting
Berlin, January 8, 2010 - Eckert & Ziegler Strahlen- und Medizintechnik AG (ISIN DE0005659700) has officially instructed the statutory auditor of publicly listed Belgian seed manufacturer International Brachytherapy S.A. (IBt) to convene, as quickly as feasible, a special general meeting of the shareholders of IBt. Sole item on the agenda is the replacement of IBt non-executive board member H&H Capital Management BVBA, represented by its sole director and Creafund representative Herman Wielfaert, by a representative of Steglitz Medinvest UG (SMI), who together with Eckert & Ziegler on 28 December 2009 initiated a public take-over bid for IBt. SMI, which holds about 22% of the shares in IBt, has so far not been represented on IBt's board at all.
"SMI is a party to the take-over bid and a large IBt shareholder, so it is natural that it should also nominate at least one member of the IBt board", explains Andreas Eckert, CEO of Eckert & Ziegler. "Creafund, on the other hand, has spent considerable effort and money in suing Eckert & Ziegler and SMI for a cash offer for IBt shares. Now that we have voluntarily, and at a substantial effort, complied with Creafund's wishes, we would in any way expect that Creafund accepts the offer and vacates his board seat."
Eckert & Ziegler currently owns about 29% of the shares of IBt and is represented on the board by two non executive directors. Four other directors of the board are independent. Three are Executive Directors that compose the management team. Together with the SMI representative the new board would have ten directors, the maximum amount of incumbents allowed by IBt's articles of association.
The Board of Director
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