Ionics has announced a conference call to discuss the initiation of a restructuring programme, intended to improve financial performance through a realignment of its management structure, a reduction in personnel, and the consolidation of certain of its operations.

Ionics has set 7 October, 2003 as the date for a conference call and webcast to discuss in detail the restructuring programme. The conference call will take place at 4:00PM (USET). For those interested in accessing the webcast, instructions will be posted on Ionics web site at www.ionics.com and will be available from 24 September.

The restructuring programme will result in the elimination of approximately 200 positions, or 10 per cent of the company's worldwide workforce. Ionics hopes that these actions, which it anticipates will be taken over the next six months, should result in an approximate annual savings of $15 million (€13m) after they are fully implemented. The company also anticipates improved margins resulting from the consolidation of its manufacturing and purchasing functions.

Based in the US, Ionics is a global separations technology company involved in the manufacture and sale of membranes, equipment and own and operate services for the purification, disinfection, concentration, treatment and analysis of water, wastewater and ultrapure water.

For more information please contact Theodore Papastavros .