Carl Zeiss Meditec: High level of market acceptance and good order
intake with new products; expected weakness of US market in first
quarter 2007/2008 temporarily burdens operating results; consolidated
net income increases by 14.2%
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(Jena, 7 February 2008) Carl Zeiss Meditec's new products launched
with considerable up-front investments are receiving a high level of
positive market response. Due to uncertainties in the financial
sector, the US medical device market is currently showing a weakness
which has resulted in reduced Carl Zeiss Meditec AG sales in this
region within the first quarter of fiscal year 2007/2008.
Consolidated revenue amounts to EUR 141.8 million, a 4.4% increase
over the previous year (EUR 135.8 million). On a like-for-like basis,
i.e. adjusted for all acquisitions and assuming a constant exchange
rate, revenue has decreased by a marginal 3% compared to previous
year. As a consequence of the hesitant US market and in conjunction
with investments in the launch of new products, Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
posted a slight decline in operating result in the first quarter of
2007/2008. EBIT during this period decreased to EUR 14.5 million
(previous year: EUR 16.9 million) which results in an EBIT margin of
10.2% for the first quarter (previous year: 12.4%). In contrast,
however, the consolidated net income after minority interest improved
to EUR 11.6 million. This was 14.2% above the previous year's figure
(EUR 10.1 million).
Carl Zeiss Meditec AG's revenue in the Americas region (consisting
primarily of the USA) was EUR 51.7 million, down 19.3% from last
year's figure of EUR 64.1 million. As a result of the ambiguous
economic situation in the US, business in that region was slower than
both the equivalent period last year and the fourth quarter of
2006/2007. In contrast, sales in the EMEA region increased by 24% and
in the Asian/Pacific region by about 25%. Order intake over all
regions increased by about 17% compared to the previous year.
"We currently assume that US market weakness and, as a consequence,
the hesitant investments by our customers in that region will be
temporary. We therefore anticipate, based on current exchange rate
levels, a consolidated revenue in the range between EUR 600 million
and EUR 620 million and an EBIT margin of 11 - 12% for the financial
year 2007/2008", says Ulrich Krauss, President and CEO of Carl Zeiss
Meditec AG.
Further details will be announced on publication of the full
financial statement for Q1 2007/2008 on 14 February 2008.
Brief profile
Carl Zeiss Meditec AG (ISIN: DE 0005313704) is one of the world's
leading medical technology companies. This market position is based
on over 160 years of experience in optical innovation.
The company has two primary areas of activity: In the field of
ophthalmology Carl Zeiss Meditec offers integrated solutions for
treating the four main eye diseases: vision defects (refraction),
cataracts, glaucomas and retinal disorders. The company's system
solutions are employed in all phases of the disease management, from
diagnosis to treatment and aftercare. Carl Zeiss Meditec has always
applied its technological expertise to product innovations. These
innovations range from basic systems such as slit lamps and fundus
cameras to standard setting diagnostic systems such as the Humphrey®
Field Analyser, the Stratus OCT(TM) and the IOLMaster®, through to
the surgical microscopes and innovative treatment systems in
refractive laser surgery. The product portfolio in ophthalmic surgery
is rounded off by intraocular lenses and consumables.
In the field of neuro and ENT surgery, Carl Zeiss Meditec is the
world's leading provider of surgical microscopes and microsurgical
visualisation solutions for a very broad range of applications, such
as tumor and vascular surgery in the head region and/or spinal
surgery. The most recent example of the innovative performance in the
area of microsurgery is the OPMI Pentero® visualisation system, which
allows efficient and ergonomic patient treatment. Carl Zeiss Meditec
will systematically expand its product range in this area and become
a solution provider in neuro and ENT surgery as well.
Carl Zeiss Meditec's medical technology portfolio is rounded off by
visualisation systems for doctors in private practice and promising
future technologies such as intraoperative radiation therapy, which
allows the targeted treatment of breast cancer and brain cancer
directly during surgery.
Carl Zeiss Meditec AG is based in Jena, Germany, with subsidiaries in
Germany (Carl Zeiss Surgical GmbH, Carl Zeiss Meditec
Vertriebsgesellschaf mbH and Carl Zeiss Medical Software GmbH)), the
USA (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc., Dublin), in Japan (Carl Zeiss Meditec
Co., Ltd., Tokyo), Spain (Carl Zeiss Meditec Iberia S.A., Madrid) and
France (Carl Zeiss Meditec S.A.S., La Rochelle, and Carl Zeiss
Meditec France SAS, Le Pecq).
Thirty-five percent of the Carl Zeiss Meditec shares are in free
float. The remaining 65 percent are held by Carl Zeiss, one of the
world's leading international groups engaged in the optical and
opto-electronics industry.
Contact
Patrick Kofler/ Director Investor Relations
Göschwitzer Straße 51-52
07745 Jena
Phone: +49 (0) 36 41 - 2 20 - 1 06
Fax: +49 (0) 36 41 - 2 20 - 1 17
E-mail: investors@meditec.zeiss.com
Web: http://www.meditec.zeiss.com
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Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
Goeschwitzer Strasse 51-52 Jena Germany
WKN:
531370; ISIN: DE0005313704; Index: Prime All Share, TECH All Share,
TecDAX;
Listed: Freiverkehr in Bayerische Börse München, Freiverkehr in Börse
Stuttgart,
Freiverkehr in Börse Berlin, Freiverkehr in Börse Düsseldorf,
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in Niedersächsische Börse zu Hannover,
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Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse;