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Strategies & Market Trends : YEEHAW CANDIDATES -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Crossy who wrote (1308)	2/13/2003 9:16:20 AM
From: JoeinIowa	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 23958

Trinity Biotech Announces Year-end Results - Revenues Increase 40% - Thursday February 13, 9:09 am ET DUBLIN, Ireland, Feb. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Trinity Biotech plc (Nasdaq: TRIB - News) today announced results for the three months and the year ended December 31, 2002. Revenues in the quarter rose 53% to US$14.98 million compared to US$9.80 million in the same period last year. Gross profit amounted to US$7.8 million, representing a gross margin of 52.2%, compared to a gross profit of US$5.1 million, and a gross margin of 51.6%, in the same period last year. During the quarter research and development expenses increased to US$1.26 million (2001 - US$0.5 million). Selling, general and administrative expenses increased to US$4.34 million (2001 - US$2.68 million) primarily as a result of the introduction of direct sales forces in the USA, Germany and more recently in Quarter 4 in the UK. The net effect of the above factors was a profit after tax of US$1.5 million for the quarter compared to a profit after tax and before exceptional items of US$1.2 million for the same quarter in 2001. Adjusted diluted earnings per share before exceptionals amounted to 3.6 US cents compared to 3.0 US cents in the same period last year. Revenues for the year ended December 31, 2002 rose 40% to US$51.98 million compared to US$37.06 million last year. Gross profit amounted to US$25.61 million, representing a gross margin of 49.3%, compared to a gross profit of US$18.92 million last year. The increased level of gross profit was offset by increased operating costs primarily associated with the introduction of the direct sales forces. As a result, the profit after tax for the year ended December 31, 2002 amounted to US$5.01 million and diluted earnings per share amounted to 12.0 US cents. Commenting on the results, Rory Nealon, Chief Financial Officer, said "Revenues have grown for the fifth year in succession at a compound growth rate of 24.4% per annum. The increase of 40% in the current year reflects a combination of both organic and acquisition-led growth. The Biopool business is now fully integrated and the recent Sigma Hemostasis and Clinical Chemistry acquisitions will further drive the growth of the Group into 2003. In trading terms, EBITDA amounted to US$9.97 million in the period and the Company is in a strong financial position with bank debt of US$6.75 million and cash balances of US$5.77 million." Ronan O'Caoimh, Chief Executive Officer, commented "During the fourth quarter and year as a whole Trinity has produced a strong trading performance at the revenue and gross margin line. During the most recent quarter we acquired a clinical chemistry business which consists of several esoteric products that are clearly differentiated in the marketplace. The addition of this clinical chemistry product line will increase the efficiency and effectiveness of our direct sales forces. We are currently in the process of transferring the manufacture of these products from St Louis to Trinity's facility in Dublin and anticipate that this will be complete by Quarter 3. The purchase of the business will be earnings enhancing and was part financed by a convertible debenture for $2.5 million from Tailwind and Solomon Strategic Holdings. This debenture is convertible at a price of $1.50 per share, has a coupon of 5.25% and is repayable in quarterly instalments of $200,000 from January 2004. The integration of the Sigma Hemostasis business is progressing successfully with the transfer of production from the Sigma, St Louis plant to Ireland expected to complete during this quarter. During the Fourth Quarter we significantly increased our sales and marketing spend with the opening of a new office in St Louis from which all sales and marketing in the U.S. will be managed in the future, while in October the Company opened a direct sales and marketing operation in the U.K. These developments have given rise to significant start-up costs, but we anticipate that the benefits will materialise in the coming quarters". Trinity Biotech develops, manufactures and markets over 300 diagnostic products for the point-of-care, and clinical laboratory segments of the diagnostic market. Trinity Biotech sells worldwide in over 80 countries, through its own sales forces and through a network of international distributors and strategic partners. For further information please see our website: www.trinitybiotech.com. Forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the results of research and development efforts, the effect of regulation by the United States Food and Drug Administration and other agencies, the impact of competitive products, product development commercialisation and technological difficulties, and other risks detailed in the Company's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Contact: Trinity Biotech plc Rory Nealon (353)-1-2769800

To: Crossy who wrote (1308)	2/13/2003 12:19:49 PM
From: Art M	Respond to of 23958

February 13, 2003 08:07 Mpower Holding Reports Fourth Quarter 2002 Results ROCHESTER, N.Y., Feb. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Mpower Holding Corporation (OTC Bulletin Board: MPOW), the parent company of Mpower Communications Corp., a provider of broadband high-speed Internet access and telephone services to business customers, today announced results of its operations for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2002. * Mpower reported fourth quarter 2002 revenue of $60.6 million, a 6% increase over the third quarter of 2002. Core customer revenue, or revenue from the sale of data and telephone services, grew to $50.8 million in the quarter, representing 84% of the company's revenue, with switched access accounting for the remaining 16% of quarterly revenue. * Gross margin increased 10% to $25.0 million, or 41% of revenue, in the fourth quarter versus $22.7 million, or 40% of revenue in the third quarter of 2002. * Mpower's EBITDA loss in the fourth quarter was $10.7 million, a 40% improvement over the $17.7 million EBITDA loss reported in the third quarter. EBITDA represents earnings before interest, taxes, stock-based compensation, depreciation and amortization and excludes network optimization costs, impairment of long-term assets and reorganization costs. * Mpower ended the fourth quarter with $11.0 million in unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and investments. Mpower continues to implement efforts to improve its cash reserves. The company has implemented stringent cash management policies and continues to actively explore additional funding alternatives. In addition, on January 8, 2003, Mpower announced its plans to sell customers and assets in Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Michigan and Texas to other service providers. Each of these transactions is expected to close by the beginning of the second quarter 2003. In connection with the company's decision to sell these operating markets, accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP") require Mpower to present the asset groups associated with these markets as discontinued operations in its historical financial statements for 2000, 2001 and 2002. The results reported today do not reflect discontinued operations as required by GAAP. Arthur Andersen, Mpower's former auditor for the years ended December 31, 2000 and 2001, is no longer able to perform audits of publicly traded companies. In order to comply with GAAP requirements related to the financial presentation for discontinued operations, Mpower's new auditor, Deloitte & Touche, is required to re-audit Mpower's financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2000 and 2001 to provide Mpower with an audit opinion on such financial statements. Deloitte & Touche has informed Mpower that the re-audit for the years ended December 31, 2000 and 2001 is required only because of the unavailability of Arthur Andersen. These re-audits have commenced and are expected to be completed in time for Mpower to file its Form 10-K on a timely basis. Mpower expects to release fully audited fourth quarter and full year 2002 results at that time and plans to hold a conference call to discuss these results in further detail. About Mpower Holding Corporation Mpower Holding Corporation (OTC Bulletin Board: MPOW) is the parent company of Mpower Communications, a facilities-based broadband communications provider offering a full range of data, telephony, Internet access and Web hosting services for small and medium-size business customers. Further information about the company can be found at www.mpowercom.com.

To: Crossy who wrote (1308)	2/13/2003 3:03:39 PM
From: Crossy	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 23958

re: ALU (Allou Healthcare) New 5% ownership position indicated in SEC Edgar by FMR Corp: Message 18576674 This is a new institutional holder of 355k shares of ALU. IT's a 13G not a 13G/A meaning their entire position is fresh. They probably were the buyers responsible for the rise of ALU from $2s to $4s rgrds CROSSY

To: Crossy who wrote (1308)	2/13/2003 6:02:14 PM
From: Sergio H	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 23958

Crossy, thanks for your response on DFIB. While I do appreciate your current investment strategy in light of the present market conditions, I want to offer some clarification on DFIB. DFIB is a small medical device co. and not a biotech. Their products are defibrillators. The market for defibrillators is growing exponentially in two ways, by sale of the devices and by sale of supplies for the devices. The latter is an example of the business strategy made famous by Gilette (i.e. razor/razor blade). There is pending legislation in all of the states in the US regarding making defibrillators available in public areas. Particularly attractive is the school legislation that has so far been approved in only two or three states with all expected to pass legislation sometime within the next 15 months. DFIB recently settled out of court in their patent litigation against Zoll. I don't think that Medtronic will drag the claim against them for very long when their turn comes up, particularly if Phillips suit is settled quickly. These law suits will establish DFIB's niche in the defibrillator market where is is now the smallest of the players. Establishing a niche will make it a prime takeover candidate for a company such as GE wishing for easy entry into this market area. This is not a value play, but a growth play, albeit in a weak market for growth plays. The takeover angle along with growth projections above the 30% range are the key catalysts for a higher price for DFIB.