Ad-hoc | 22 November 2004 07:34

Carl Zeiss Meditec/Advance publication FY 03/04: Net income almost doubled

Ad-hoc-announcement transmitted by DGAP. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ——————————————————————————– Sales and earnings enhanced by excellent Q4 – Further improvement in profitability – Operative cash flow again increased – Record liquidity as an excellent basis to boost organic and external growth (Jena, 22 November 2004) Thanks to an increase in sales and earnings in the fourth quarter, the revenues of the medical technology provider Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, which is listed on the Prime Standard (ISIN: DE000531370), for the financial year 2003/2004 will be at about the same level seen in the previous year despite the negative effects from the development of currency exchange rates. The adjusted organic growth in sales – above all through innovative products – on the basis of constant exchange rates is over 12% when compared with the previous year. In total the company expects revenues of just under EUR 235 million (previous year: EUR 235.7 million). In comparison to the previous year an improvement in the earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) to over EUR 26 million is expected (previous year: EUR 24.7 million). The EBIT margin will thus increase to just above 11% (previous year: 10.5%). Thanks to the excellent development in the operating result, Carl Zeiss Meditec expects its net income for the year to almost double (previous year: EUR 6.6 million). The operative cash flow will probably improve by more than 12% over the excellent financial year 2002/2003 to a figure of more than EUR 31 million. The net cash and cash equivalents will thus increase to a record level of over EUR 75 million. This provides Carl Zeiss Meditec with an excellent basis to achieve its growth targets in the new financial year. For the financial year 2004/2005, which has just begun, Carl Zeiss Meditec is planning on increasing its revenues by more than 20% and further improving its profitability. Carl Zeiss Meditec AG will present its final figures on 15 December 2004. An analyst and investor conference is taking place in Frankfurt am Main on the same date. Contact: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, Jens Brajer/Director Investor Relations, Goeschwitzer 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 22.11.2004 ——————————————————————————– WKN: 531370; ISIN: DE0005313704; Index: Listed: Geregelter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin- Bremen, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover, München und Stuttgart 220734 Nov 04