Seneffe, Belgium, August 2, 2011, Eckert & Ziegler BEBIG (Euronext: EZBG; Reuters: EZBG.BR; Bloomberg: EZBG:BB), a global leader in brachytherapy, announced today its consolidated results for the first half-year ending June 30, 2011.

The Half-Year 2011 report including the management report and condensed consolidated interim financial statements for the 6 months ending June 30, 2011 can be downloaded at:
http://www.bebig.eu/investor_relations/financial_reports/interim_results.html

It should be mentioned that comparability to the year 2010 is limited as the Russian project contributed significantly to the revenue and earnings in 2010, while no revenue was generated out of the project in 2011.

Sales for the first six months of 2011 reached EUR 13.1 million, compared to EUR 14.9 million for the same period of 2010, showing a decrease of 12%. The main components were income generated by the sales of permanent brachytherapy I-125 radiotherapeutic implants as well as income from temporary brachytherapy equipment, i.e. HDR equipment using Co-60 (Cobalt 60) and Ir-192 (Iridium 192) sources (also called "afterloaders"). The difference in sales was expected by management, it relates to the limited comparability of this first semester 2011 versus 2010.

Earnings before interests and taxes (EBIT) reached EUR 1.5 million for the first semester of 2011 compared to EUR 2.6 million for the same period of 2010, showing a decrease of the EBIT margin by 6%, from 18% to 12%. The magnitude of this decrease was expected by the management, due to the fact that construction projects, like Russia in the past two years, contribute with very strong margins, while no revenue out of construction contracts were recorded this year so far. These kinds of projects are recurring, but will not contribute on a constant basis.

Net profit reached EUR 0.7 million end of June 2011 compared to a net profit of EUR 1.7 million end of June 2010.

Total equity of the group stood at EUR 38.3 million on June 30, 2011 versus EUR 37.6 million in December 31, 2010.

Outlook

As it was anticipated, the management does not expect to reach the sales level of 2010; mainly because revenues generated by the Russian project contributed significantly to the total turnover in 2010, while no revenues from that project are recognized in 2011.

For the full year 2011, taking into account our current order book and seasonal fluctuations, management expects to have revenues from sales of goods to be above the 2010 results even if revenues and profitability for this first half-year 2011 were slightly behind management expectation. The price pressure in the European public health care sector is continuing to affect our niche market for permanent brachytherapy. Although business in developing countries is robust with reliable profitability, the risk for our market in Russia is increasing. The current crisis of the EURO adds risks to our receivables, especially in European countries affected by high public debts. Under these boundary conditions the management expects an EBIT margin for the year end in the magnitude of 13%.