Sectra's earnings for the 2002/2003 fiscal year were the best to date. Profit before taxes rose 28.8% to SEK 79.1 M (61.4), corresponding to a profit margin of 15.7%. Earnings per share amounted to SEK 1.77 (1.23). Sales were also the highest in the history of the company, increasing 19.5% to SEK 503.4 M (426.3), compared with the year-earlier period. Order bookings were up 6.5% to SEK 489.8 M (459.7).
"Our operations in medical systems and secure communications systems have continued to expand and we have strengthened our leading position in Scandinavia," says Jan-Olof Brüer, CEO of Sectra AB. "Our international drive has resulted in increased sales in markets outside Sweden and the proportion of international sales has increased from 43% to 58%."
Focusing on Western Europe and North America, Sectra entered into several new strategic cooperation agreements during the year. These cooperations complement existing partners for digital radiology systems and allow the company to reach a broader market. To support sales through partners, Sectra opened offices in the UK and Australia. The company now has offices in eight countries.
"Our strategy is to expand our international operations gradually," continues Jan-Olof Brüer. "Through cooperation with global and local partners, Sectra has laid the foundation for continued international expansion."
During the fourth quarter, Sectra signed a five-year agreement with the private healthcare provider Capio Diagnostik AB for the digitization of radiology operations at Sweden's largest private emergency hospital, St. Görans Hospital in Stockholm. Combined with the order from Medicinsk Röntgen AB earlier in the fiscal year, this represents a major breakthrough into the private radiology sector - a market of major international importance.
Through its cooperation with Kongsberg Defence Communications of Norway, Sectra has delivered eavesdrop-secure telephones during the year to customers that included NATO's central organization and the Dutch and Czech Defenses.
"Our operations in secure communications systems have expanded considerably," says Jan-Olof Brüer. "This is largely the result of the successful sales of Sectra's eavesdrop-secure telephones to the NATO market. "Sectra has a strong technological platform. Our solutions are targeted at growth markets and Sectra's strong position in our home market provides us with a solid foundation for continued international expansion. Accordingly, it is our assessment that Sectra will continue to expand with favorable profitability," concludes Jan-Olof Brüer.
Sectra AB, Dr. Jan-Olof Brüer, President and CEO,
+46 13 23 52 09, job/a/sectra/d/se
Sectra has its roots in Linköping Technical University and is one of Sweden's fastest growing high-tech companies in the IT area. Since the mid-1980s, Sectra has successfully conducted development and sales of high-technology medical IT and telecommunications products. Today, the business includes products in medical systems, secure communication systems and wireless information systems.
Business is conducted in eight countries with a total of 274 employees. Sales for the fiscal year May 2002–April 2003 reached SEK 503 million. Since March 1999, Sectra’s shares have been quoted on the O list of the Stockholm Exchange.
E-mail: info/d/press/a/sectra/d/se