Increased sales and improved operating margin

Increased sales and improved operating margin

IT and medical-technology company Sectra's net sales for the first quarter
increased 13.7% to SEK 197.8 million (174.0) compared with the year-earlier
period. Operating profit increased to SEK 10.1 million (0.9), corresponding to
an operating margin of 5.1% (0.5) for the quarter. Profit after financial items
amounted to SEK 3.5 million (6.2), corresponding to a profit margin of 1.8%
(3.6). The Group's order bookings amounted to SEK 152.1 million (175.2).  

“The increase in sales occurred primarily because earnings are beginning to be
generated from a few large and multi-year projects, which Sectra previously
secured in the Medical Systems area,” says Jan-Olof Brüer, President and CEO of
Sectra AB. “The improved net sales had a positive impact on operating profit.” 

Net sales for the Medical Systems business area increased 14.3% to SEK 174.3
million (152.6) during the quarter. Operating profit for the business area
increased to SEK 4.5 million (0.3), corresponding to an operating margin of 2.6%
(0.2). 

Net sales for the Secure Communication Systems business area amounted to SEK
17.2 million (21.3). Operating profit totaled SEK 3.0 million (3.7) during the
quarter, corresponding to a continued operating margin of 17.5% (17.4). 

“We continue to expand internationally and the Group's sales in markets outside
Sweden currently represent 74.7% (68.0) of the net sales during the quarter. At
the same time, the consolidated profit after financial items for the quarter had
a negative impact of SEK 4.5 million in the form of currency fluctuations, since
sales in the international markets primarily occur in USD and EUR, and the SEK
has strengthened,” says Jan-Olof Brüer.

For further information, please contact:
Jan-Olof Brüer, President and CEO of Sectra AB, Tel: +46 (0)13-23 52 09


About the Sectra Group
Sectra was founded in 1978 and conducts successful development and sales of
high-technology products in the expansive niche segments of medical systems and
secure communication sytems. Sectra has offices in 12 countries and sells its
products through partners worldwide. The head office is in Linköping, Sweden and
the company developed from research at Linköping University. Sales for the
2008/2009 full year amounted to SEK 863 million. Sectra is listed on the NASDAQ
OMX Stockholm AB exchange. For more information about Sectra, visit our website:
www.sectra.com