IBA SA : IBA Selected to Install First Proton Therapy Center at UMCG in the Netherlands

Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, June 20^th, 2014 - IBA (Ion Beam Applications), the world's leading provider of proton therapy solutions for the treatment of cancer, announces today that it has been selected by the Universitair Medisch Centrum Groningen (UMCG) as its preferred vendor to establish a proton therapy center in Groningen, the Netherlands. IBA emerged as the best supplier following a comprehensive European public tender conducted by UMCG.

IBA will equip the new center with its Proteus^®PLUS two-gantry room configuration including its next generation Pencil Beam Scanning capability. The contract will also include a long-term operation and maintenance agreement. The equipment and services supplied by IBA to the upcoming UMCG proton therapy center is worth approximately EUR 50 million to IBA. The UMCG and IBA are expected to sign a final contract before the end of 2014, subject to the approval of proton therapy by the Dutch health insurers.

The establishment of this proton therapy center follows an announcement on 29 July 2013 by the Dutch Government inviting permit applications for proton therapy centers in the Netherlands. In December 2013, UMCG was granted this treatment permit. UMCG is currently in discussions with insurance companies on reimbursement and arranging finance as well as other required permits with the target that the center will treat its first patient in 2017.

Olivier Legrain, Chief Executive Officer of IBA commented: "Following a rigorous public tender process, we are delighted that IBA has been selected as the best proton therapy system by one of the first ever proton therapy centers in the Netherlands. It will be the 29^th international center to use IBA's next generation proton therapy equipment. We are committed to supporting UMCG in providing high-quality cancer treatment to more patients across the region."

"The competent professional support and responsiveness given by IBA throughout our demanding tender procedure give us confidence in a successful and long lasting collaboration with them. We are now eager to see the Proton Therapy center opening its doors in 2017 and to provide this technology for the benefit of thousands of cancer patients in Holland", said Bert-Jan Souman, Managing Director of the Proton Therapy Center Groningen at the UMCG.

The UMCG expects to be able to start building in Spring 2015, meaning that the first patients could be treated in 2017. The proton centre will be established on the UMCG grounds and be part of the UMC Groningen Cancer Center, where cancer patients, both children and adults, are provided with all available treatments in one place. The number of patients to be treated with proton therapy at the UMCG will be increased in phases totalling up to 600 per year. The Minister has opted for controlled introduction of proton therapy in the Netherlands with a maximum treatment capacity of 2,200 patients per year in total and for licences for a maximum of four healthcare providers.

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors

About Proton Therapy
Proton Therapy is considered the most advanced and targeted cancer treatment due to its superior dose distribution and fewer side effects. Protons deposit the majority of their effective energy within a precisely controlled range, directly within the tumor, sparing healthy surrounding tissue. Higher doses can be delivered to the tumor without increasing the risk of side effects and long-term complications, thereby improving patient outcomes and quality of life.

Today, more than half of all proton therapy clinical facilities worldwide are IBA systems. This includes 17 proton therapy centers in operation and 12 additional centers under development. Over 25,000 patients have been treated on IBA equipment - more than on all major competitive installations combined.

About IBA
IBA (Ion Beam Applications S.A.) is a cancer diagnostics and treatment equipment company, and the worldwide technology leader in the field of proton therapy, the most advanced form of radiotherapy available today.

The Company's primary expertise lies in the development of next generation proton therapy technologies that provide oncology care providers with premium quality services and equipment.  IBA's proton therapy solutions are scalable and adaptable, offering universal full scale proton therapy centers as well as next generation compact, single room solutions.  IBA also focuses on the development and supply of dosimetry solutions for Quality Assurance of medical equipment and increased patient safety as well as particle accelerators for medical and industrial applications.

IBA employs more than 1,000 people worldwide and is listed on Euronext Brussels, (IBA: Reuters IBAB.BR and Bloomberg IBAB.BB), more information can be found at: www.iba-worldwide.com

About UMCG
University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) is one of the largest hospitals in the Netherlands and it is the biggest employer in the north of the country. A staff of almost 12,000 people work in patient care and in leading medical research, focusing on "healthy ageing". For its research and educational function the hospital has close ties with University of Groningen. Some 3,400 students are currently enrolled in degree courses to become physicians, dentist, or movement scientist, and over 450 are doing a medical residency. Patients come to UMCG for basic care, but also for highly specialized diagnostics, examinations or treatment. All patients in the north of the country with complicated or rare conditions are eventually referred to UMCG. Excellent care is always based on the latest insights and given by the best doctors and nursing staff. Together with the support services they always focus on that one common goal: building the future of health. For more information visit: www.umcg.nl