NACKA STRAND, Sweden, Feb, 18, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Hexagon AB (Stockholm:HEXAb) announces its Year-end Report for January 1st - December 31st, 2002
Fourth Quarter 2002 - Earnings before taxes increased by 47 per cent, in spite of a weakening USD. - Hexagon Metrology has strengthened its market position and has taken market shares in a weak market. The operating margin (EBITA) for the business area was 13 per cent. - Earnings Per Share increased by 26 per cent to SEK 4.11. January - December 2002 - Earnings before taxes increased by 41 per cent to 319 MSEK (227). - Earnings per share increased by 19 per cent to SEK 10.74. - The Board of Directors proposes an unchanged dividend, adjusted for the rights issue, of 4.60 SEK per share (4.60). Forecast 2003 - The Earnings Before Taxes are expected to exceed the earnings for 2002. Nacka Strand, 18th of February 2003 HEXAGON AB (publ) Ola Rollen, President & C.E.O. This information was brought to you by Waymaker www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: The full report: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2003/02/18/20030218BIT00630/wkr0001.doc The full report: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2003/02/18/20030218BIT00630/wkr0002.pdf