Elekta: Strong order bookings during first quarter

ELEKTA: STRONG ORDER BOOKINGS DURING FIRST QUARTER Elekta's order bookings rose sharply during the first three months of the 2003/04 fiscal year to SEK 835 M (697), a 20 percent increase compared with the corresponding period in the preceding year (14 percent calculated on a rolling 12-months basis). In all four of Elekta's market regions, order bookings improved. Calculated on fixed exchange rates, the increase in the Group's order bookings was approximately 35 percent. In July 2003, Elekta Synergy(TM), Elekta's image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) equipment, received CE marking and during the same month, it was used clinically by the Netherlands Cancer Institute in Amsterdam. Elekta expects the complete Synergy(TM) system to become available for a wider market during 2004. The new Elekta Synergy(TM) platform - the IGRT-adapted linear accelerator - accounted for about half of the orders Elekta received for radiation therapy of cancer during the first three months of the fiscal year. The market for Leksell Gamma Knife® - Elekta's equipment for radiosurgery - also continued to develop well, with healthy order bookings during the first quarter of the year. The main factor that had an adverse impact on Elekta's sales and earnings during the first three months of the 2003/04 fiscal year was the weakening of the USD in relation to the Swedish krona. Accordingly, net sales are estimated to be somewhat lower compared with the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year. The operating margin for the first quarter of the fiscal year is estimated to be slightly below 9 percent, in line with the Group's financial objectives. The expectations for the 2003/04 fiscal year are that demand for Elekta's products and services will remain favorable. The order backlog remains high and Elekta's financial objectives remain unchanged. The targets are sales growth of 10-15% in local currency and an operating margin of 8-10% on a rolling 12-month basis. The operating margin for individual quarters may deviate from this target. Delivery volumes in the first half of 2003/04, and subsequently net sales, will be lower than in the second half of 2003/04. Elekta will publish its three-month interim report on September 22. All of the figures in this press release are preliminary and may be adjusted marginally by the time the official report is released. ***************** Elekta is a world-leading supplier of advanced and innovative radiation oncology and neurosurgery solutions and services for minimal-invasive and precise treatment of cancer and brain disorders. Elekta's solutions are clinically effective, cost efficient and gentle on the patient. For further information, please contact: Peter Ejemyr, Group VP Corporate Communications, Elekta AB (publ), Phone: +46 733 611 000, E-mail: peter.ejemyr@elekta.com For additional information about Elekta, visit www.elekta.com ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2003/08/27/20030827BIT00780/wkr0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2003/08/27/20030827BIT00780/wkr0002.pdf