GOTTINGEN, July 25 - Lambda Physik AG reported continued dynamic growth for the first nine months of the fiscal year ending September 30, 2001. Despite the global economic slowdown, the company again significantly increased its most important figures. The management board is maintaining its revenue guidance of more than 40 percent growth for fiscal 2001. Lambda Physik AG achieved consolidated revenue in the first nine months of the current fiscal year in the amount of EUR 103.6 million, which is 55 percent above last year's level (2000: EUR 66.7 million). At the end of three quarters, the company has already surpassed the record total for the entire fiscal year 2000 (EUR 100.2 million). Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT), according to US GAAP, improved by about 120 percent to EUR 14.7 million compared with EUR 6.6 million a year ago, and the EBIT margin rose from 9.9 percent to 14.2 percent. Net income increased by 186 percent to EUR 6.9 million, compared with EUR 2.4 million a year ago. Earnings per share were up EUR 0.18 to EUR 0.52. "In a difficult environment of nonstop negative news flow from various high-tech sectors, Lambda Physik has maintained stability and continues to show above-average growth," said Dirk Basting, the company's CEO. "Despite heightened uncertainty about the fourth quarter due to the significant downturn in one of our core markets, the semiconductor industry, we still expect to meet our high growth targets for the fiscal year. The overall economic development has not left Lambda Physik unscathed. The company's growth slowed slightly around mid-year. Nevertheless, the order intake provides a healthy basis for further positive development.