Perma-Fix Environmental Services Announces 18.6% Increase in Revenue Compared to First Quarter of 2002

ATLANTA, May 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. (Nasdaq: PESI; Boston) (Germany: PES.BE) today announced results for the quarter ended March 31, 2003.

    Highlights for the quarter, as compared to the first quarter of last year:

     * Revenue increased 18.6% to $19.5 million compared to $16.5 million last
       year
     * Nuclear segment revenue increased 16.6% to $8.4 million
     * Industrial segment revenue increased 22.8% to $10.2 million
     * Gross margin as a percent of revenue improved from 19.1% to 25.9%
     * SG&A as a percent of revenue declined from 25.3% to 22.4%
     * Income from operations was $681,000 versus a loss of $1.0 million
     * EBITDA increased to $1.8 million compared to $12,000 last year
       (see reconciliation table)
     * Net loss improved to $431,000 versus $2.0 million last year

Dr. Louis F. Centofanti, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We are extremely pleased with our solid financial improvement during the first quarter, traditionally our weakest period. Revenue increased substantially in both our nuclear and industrial segments. We are especially pleased with the 22.8% improvement in our industrial segment, which we achieved despite an unseasonably cold winter and the continued economic weakness affecting our industrial customers. Importantly, we have only begun to penetrate the enormous market for our industrial and nuclear waste technologies. We expect to see continued growth and profitability for 2003."

Revenues for the quarter were $19.5 million, compared to $16.5 million for the same period last year, an increase of 18.6%. Revenues for the nuclear segment were $8.4 million for the quarter, reflecting an increase of 16.6% over the same quarter of 2002. Revenues for the industrial segment were $10.2 million for the quarter, reflecting an increase of 22.8% over the same quarter of 2002. Net loss for the quarter was approximately $0.4 million or $.01 per share as compared to a net loss of $2.0 million or $.06 per share for the quarter ended March 31, 2002.

EBITDA for the three months ended March 31, 2003, was $1,821,000, an increase of $1,809,000 over the prior year total of $12,000. EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, and is presented as income from operations excluding depreciation and amortization. EBITDA also excludes certain, non-operating, "Other" expenses. EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles, but is provided as information for certain investors for analysis purposes. Below is a reconciliation of operating income to EBITDA for the first quarter ended March 31, 2003, and 2002.

                                                         Three Months Ended
                                                             March 31,
    (amounts in thousands)                              2003           2002

    Income (loss) from operations                       $681         $(1,015)
    Add: Depreciation & Amortization                   1,140           1,027
    EBITDA                                            $1,821             $12


Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. is a national environmental services company, providing unique mixed waste and industrial waste management services. The Company has increased its focus on the nuclear services segment, which provides radioactive and mixed waste treatment services to hospitals, research laboratories and institutions, numerous federal agencies including the Departments of Energy and Defense and nuclear utilities. The industrial services segment provides hazardous and non-hazardous waste treatment services for a diverse group of customers including Fortune 500 companies, numerous federal, state and local agencies and thousands of smaller clients. The Company operates nine major waste treatment facilities across the country.

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" which are based largely on the company's expectations and are subject to various business risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the company's control. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the information concerning possible or assumed future results of operations of the company, and the expectation for continued growth and profitability for 2003. These forward-looking statements are intended to qualify for the safe harbors from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. While the company believes the expectations reflected in this news release are reasonable, it can give no assurance such expectations will prove to be correct. There are a variety of factors which could cause future outcomes to differ materially from those described in this release, including without limitation, future economic conditions, industry conditions, competitive pressures, the ability of the company to apply and market its technologies, neither the government nor any party which has granted the Company a material contract terminates their contract prior to expiration of the term of the contract, the DOE's failure to abide by or comply with the Broad Spectrum contracts or to deliver waste as anticipated, the continued acceptance of our new wastewater technology and the affect of any acquisition by the Company during 2003. The company makes no commitment to disclose any revisions to forward-looking statements, or any facts, events or circumstances after the date hereof that bear upon forward-looking statements.

     Please visit us on the World Wide Web at http://www.perma-fix.com .


     PERMA-FIX ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.
     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
     (Unaudited)

                                                        Three Months Ended
                                                             March 31,
    (Amounts in Thousands, Except for
     Per Share Amounts)                                 2003           2002

    Net revenues                                     $19,518        $16,451
    Cost of goods sold                                14,457         13,311
      Gross profit                                     5,061          3,140

    Selling, general and administrative expenses       4,380          4,155
      Income (loss) from operations                      681         (1,015)

    Other income (expense):
      Interest income                                      2              5
      Interest expense                                  (702)          (705)
      Interest expense-financing fees                   (301)          (257)
      Other                                              (65)           (27)
        Net loss                                        (385)        (1,999)

    Preferred Stock dividends                            (46)           (31)

        Net loss applicable to Common Stock            $(431)       $(2,030)

    EBITDA                                            $1,821            $12
    Net loss per common share:
      Basic                                            $(.01)         $(.06)
      Diluted                                          $(.01)         $(.06)
    Number of shares and potential common shares
      used in computing net loss per common share:
      Basic                                           34,605         34,057
      Diluted                                         34,605         34,057

SOURCE Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc.