Interim report May – January 2012/13

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  • Order bookings increased 13* percent to SEK 8,080 M (7,186).
  • Net sales increased 11* percent to SEK 6,608 M (5,929).
  • Operating result amounted to SEK 873 M (967) excluding non-recurring items of SEK -24 M (107).
  • Net income amounted to SEK 504 M (687). Earnings per share amounted to SEK 1.31 (1.83) before dilution and SEK 1.30 (1.81) after dilution. In September 2012 a 4:1 share split was conducted. All data per share has been restated pro forma.
  • Cash flow after investments was SEK 335 M (372).
  • Exchange rate movements compared to fiscal year 2011/12 are expected to have a negative impact of approximately three percentage points on growth of net sales as well as operating profit for the 2012/13 fiscal year.
  • On March 1, Elekta launched Versa HD™ - a new revolutionary linear accelerator system designed to significantly improve cancer care for the patients. Featuring high dose delivery and precision beam shaping, Versa HD is designed for improved treatment optimization and higher efficiency.
  • The outlook has been adjusted due to effects of recent exchange rate volatility, uncertainty in the US and postponed business in the Middle East. Based on current market conditions, net sales is expected to increase by approximately 15 percent in local currency for the 2012/13 fiscal year. Operating profit is expected to increase by more than 15 percent, excluding currency effects.

* Compared to last fiscal year based on constant exchange rates.

President and CEO comments
Demand in Elekta’s markets has been favorable so far this fiscal year. In total, order bookings increased by 13* percent for the first nine months with growth in all regions. In the third quarter order bookings increased by 6* percent.

The North American market has lately been more cautious, mainly due to uncertainty about the budget agreement in the US. Elekta’s order bookings was impacted by a decided but not yet implemented reduction in reimbursement levels for Medicare patients receiving treatment from Leksell Gamma Knife®. We provide both linac-based SRS systems and Leksell Gamma Knife® and we remain committed in our pursuit of the best options and effectiveness in treatment of the patients.

The order trend in the Asia Pacific region was excellent and Elekta has strengthened its market-leading position. Several countries there are progressing with structural and long-term expansion of cancer care.

Orders in Europe were overall in line with expectations. The demand scenario is good in most parts of Europe, where Elekta continues to make solutions available for qualitative and cost-efficient cancer care for an increasing number of patients. However, the political uncertainty in the Middle East region resulted in that business has been postponed.

During a well-attended event in Atlanta, US, we recently launched our new linear accelerator system, Versa HDTM. It is a revolutionary system that aims to significantly improve cancer care and quality of life for patients around the world. Versa HDTMhas a unique combination of high dose rates, exceptional resolution, speed and low radiation leakage, all key elements for improving cancer care. The system also offers customized solutions for the major cancer indications, enabling more patient-specific care. The interest and initial response from our customers have been very good.

Our long-term development project, aimed at facilitating treatment combined with advanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, continues according to plan. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas, US, recently joined the consortium of leading clinics contributing to the development of the system together with Elekta.

Cash flow after investments amounted to SEK 335 M (372) for the period. Cash conversion amounted to 44 percent for the first nine months. Our aim remains to achieve cash generation in excess of 70 percent for the fiscal year.

Net sales for the first nine months increased by 11* percent. In the third quarter net sales was lower compared to the strong comparison quarter last year. In the third quarter previous year, the newly acquired Nucletron contributed strongly to net sales, partly due to their fiscal year ended in December and this effect is estimated to SEK 200 M. We anticipate that in the fourth quarter we will see strong growth in net sales and have a substantial contribution from our Brachytherapy business. Operating profit decreased with SEK 94 M to SEK 873 M, excluding non-recurring items. Operating profit was negatively impacted primarily by the lower net sales from Nucletron, increased investments in R&D as well as exchange-rate fluctuations that had a negative effect of approximately SEK 50 M.

We expect a strong fourth quarter. The outlook has been adjusted due to effects of recent exchange rate volatility, uncertainty in the US and postponed business in the Middle East. Based on current market conditions, net sales is expected to increase by approximately 15 percent in local currency for the 2012/13 fiscal year. Operating profit is expected to increase by more than 15 percent excluding currency effects.

Exchange rate movements compared to FY 2011/12 are expected to have a negative impact of approximately three percentage points on growth of net sales as well as operating profit for the 2012/13 fiscal year.

* Compared to last fiscal year based on constant exchange rates.

Tomas Puusepp
President and CEO

Conference call
Elekta will host a telephone conference at 10:00 – 11:00 CET on March 5, with President and CEO Tomas Puusepp and CFO Håkan Bergström.
To take part in the conference call, please dial in about 5-10 minutes in advance and use the access code 927781.
Swedish dial-in number: +46 (0)8 5052 0110, UK dial-in number: +44 (0)20 7162 0077, US dial-in number: + 1 877 491 0064.
The telephone conference will also be broadcasted over the internet (listen only). Please use the link:
http://webeventservices.reg.meeting-stream.com/73934_elekta

For further information, please contact:

Håkan Bergström, CFO, Elekta AB (publ)
+46 8 587 25 547, hakan.bergstrom@elekta.com

Johan Andersson, Director Investor Relations, Elekta AB (publ)
+46 8 587 25 415, johan.anderssonmelbi@elekta.com

The above information is such that Elekta AB (publ) shall make public in accordance with the Securities Market Act and/or the Financial Instruments Trading Act. The information was published at 07:30 CET on March 5, 2013.

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