Bremen, February 19, 2008. On the basis of its preliminary figures, MeVis Medical Solutions AG [ISIN: DE 000A0LBFE4; WKN: A0LBFE] achieved a roughly 60 percent increase in the volume of license sales in the digital mammography segment via its OEM partners Siemens AG and Hologic Inc. in 2007. A specialist in disease-oriented software products for image-based medicine and the market leader in breast cancer diagnosis and early detection, MeVis Medical Solutions generated revenues of around EUR 7.3 million in 2007 (previous year: EUR 8.3 million).
The decline in revenues over the previous year was very predominantly due to non-recurring effects which primarily arose in the fourth quarter of 2007. Following the acquisition of OEM partner Invivo Corp. by Philips NV in 2006, the billing system and in consequence revenue recognition with Invivo was changed at the end of 2007. As a result, the billing date for software sold to Invivo may be delayed compared with the previous situation. Revenues expected for the fourth quarter of 2007 have been pushed back into 2008. However, the volume of software sold via Invivo rose substantially in the year under review. The company assumes that this favorable trend will continue in 2008 as well. In 2007 a substantial
discount was granted to OEM partners in the digital mammography segment for the first time in five years after a period of steady growth in the interests of a sustained boost in sales to increase volumes. Although substantially more licenses were sold in 2007 than in 2006, it was not possible to fully recoup the effects of the price cut. The weak US dollar also took its toll on revenues. Roughly 80 percent of the Bremen-based company’s revenues are denominated in US dollars, while its costs are primarily invoiced in euros. These effects were dampened by means of currency hedging. For 2008, a sum of around USD 3 million has already been hedged. In addition, the non-recurring expenses in connection with the Company’s stock market flotation also left traces.
The number of employees, a critical determinant for the successful development of new products, rose substantially from 60 to 101. This also included recruiting for the newly established US subsidiary MeVis Medical Solutions Inc. in Wisconsin. As these additional scheduled staff costs are not yet being capitalized in 2007, personnel expenses were substantially higher in the third and fourth quarters. Despite these effects, the company assumes that it broke even in 2007 (previous year: EUR 4.7 million). Turning to 2008, MeVis Medical Solutions expects revenues of EUR 9.0 to 10.0 million and EBIT of EUR 2.2 to 2.6 million. After-tax earnings are expected to amount to in between EUR 3.0 to 3.3 million.
The final figures and the 2007 annual report will be published on April 25, 2008.
Information and Explanation of the Issuer to this News:
'2007 was a successful year for us despite difficult economic conditions in the United States, which is a crucial market for medical technology, and the weak US dollar,' says Dr. Carl J.G. Evertsz, CEO of MeVis Medical Solutions AG. 'We achieved important strategic goals and, via our stock market flotation, managed to create the basis for developing further innovative products. Thanks to additional recruiting, we will be able speed up product development. Numerous new products will be launched on the market in 2008 and 2009. We are already a strategic partner for leading international medical technology OEMs such as Hologic, Siemens and Partner and plan to extend these joint activities and gain further OEM partners.'