Interim Report January 1st - March 31st, 2004

5/5/2004 6:51 AM EST

First Quarter 2004

· Order intake increased by 2 per cent to 1 950 MSEK (1 907).
Using fixed exchange rates and a comparable structure, the increase was
10 per cent.
· Net sales decreased by -5 per cent to 1 760 MSEK (1 847). Using
fixed exchange rates and a comparable structure, the organic growth was
3 per cent.
· Earnings before taxes increased by 23 per cent to 86 MSEK (70).
Currency movements have influenced the result adversely by -7 MSEK.
· Earnings after taxes increased by 27 per cent to 57 MSEK (45).
Currency movements have influenced the result adversely by -5 MSEK.
· Earnings per share after taxes increased by 27 per cent to 3.08
SEK (2.43). Currency movements have influenced the result adversely by
0.27 SEK.
· The acquisition of Thona Group approved by competition
authorities - consolidated as of April 30th 2004.


For further information, please contact:
Ola Rollén, President & C.E.O., Hexagon AB, Phone +46 8-601 26 20
Håkan Halen, C.F.O., Hexagon AB, Phone +46 8-601 26 20



Hexagon is a multinational engineering technology group with the ambition to become number 1 or number 2 in its strategic businesses. The group's targets are to increase earnings per share after tax by at least 15 per cent p.a., and achieve a return on capital employed of more than 15 per cent over a business cycle.