Press release from Getinge Industrier
Press release from Getinge Industrier Getinge today announced plans of divesting Orto Maquet GmbH, a subsidiary company of newly acquired Maquet AG. Getinge will be assisted by an investment bank when disposing of the company. Orto Maquet which was founded in 1997 has developed a unique robot for orthopaedic surgery and as pioneer within the area, the company has amassed a significant amount of competence and knowledge in the field of computer assisted surgery which has a tremendous future potential. Today Orto Maquet has received approval (CE marks) from regulatory authorities for the two indications cruciate ligament and hip replacement for all EU countries. CE mark certification for total knee replacement is expected shortly. Since the start the company has installed more than 60 systems in France, Germany and Belgium. With the sale of Orto Maquet Getinge will focus all efforts of building a strong position within surgical systems, concentrating initially on three important product areas, namely surgical tables, surgical lights and ceiling service units. It is our distinct aim to strive for world leadership in all three areas which form the essence of an efficient and functional surgical theatre. Orto Maquet is still in the start-up phase and in 1999/2000 the company had net sales of 8.6 M EUR with an EBIT amounting to -7.4 M EUR. The planned divestment of Orto Maquet will not include Maquet's newly developed surgical tables Awigs (advanced workplace for image guided surgery) and Viwas (vascular interventional workplace for advanced surgery). Getinge, 2 January 2001 Johan Malmquist President & CEO For further information please contact Johan Malmquist, phone +46-35- 155500 You can also visit our website at: http://www.getinge.com Getinge Industrier is a medical-technical Group and a world leader in the fields of health care, the pharmaceutical industry and laboratories, as well as hygiene, lifting and antidecubitus systems for hospitals and extended care. In 1999, before the acquisition of the shares of7 Maquet, the Getinge Group had sales of SEK 4.885 million and 3,800 employees. GETINGE INDUSTRIER AB Phone +46 35 15 55 00 VAT No (publ.) SE556408503201 P.O. Box 69 Fax +46 35 549 52 Org.No. 556408-5032 SE-310 44 GETINGE www.getinge.com Registered office: Sweden Halmstad ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by BIT http://www.bit.se The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2001/01/02/20010102BIT00530/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2001/01/02/20010102BIT00530/bit0002.pdf