Ad-hoc | 21 October 2004 11:17

Carl Zeiss Meditec AG:Carl Zeiss Meditec to acquire Laser…

Ad-hoc-announcement transmitted by DGAP. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ——————————————————————————– (Dublin, CA – Jena, Germany, October 21, 2004) Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc. and Laser Diagnostic Technologies, Inc. (LDT), based in San Diego, Calif., today announced that they have signed a definitive agreement for Carl Zeiss Meditec’s acquisition of LDT yesterday evening. LDT invented and commercialized a new standard for glaucoma detection with its proprietary ocular nerve fiber measurement instrument. Worldwide sales of approximately USD 20 million with a break-even operating result are expected. The transaction is expected to close in approximately 30-45 days, pending the requisite company and shareholder approvals. Further details of the agreement were not yet disclosed. LDT’s main product GDx VCC is a dedicated glaucoma diagnosis and management tool. It complements the market presence of Carl Zeiss Meditec’s STRATUSOCT (TM) which is a multipurpose retinal imaging system used not only for the diagnosis of glaucoma, but also for a wide array of conditions including AMD, diabetic retinopathy and pre-and post-cataract assessment. Thus, the GDx VCC targets especially at customers who do not require the full range of capacities as offered by the STRATUSOCT (TM). The global market for glaucoma products is expected to increase at an annual rate of over 10% as a result of the aging population and technology advances. Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness. Approximately three million Americans, and more than sixty million people worldwide, have glaucoma, but almost half are unaware that they have it. The patient population is expected to grow as the global population ages. Therefore, the company is well positioned with its glaucoma solutions to meet future expanding demands. Contact(s): Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, Jens Brajer/Director Investor Relations, Göschwitzer Str. 51-52, 07745 Jena, Phone: +49 (0)3641-220-105, Fax: +49 (0)3641-220-117, E-mail: investors@meditec.zeiss.com end of ad-hoc-announcement (c)DGAP 21.10.2004 ——————————————————————————– WKN: 531370; ISIN: DE0005313704; Index: Listed: Geregelter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin- Bremen, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover, München und Stuttgart 211117 Okt 04