Atlas Copco,--Atlas Copco CEO Ronnie Leten Comments on Q3 Results

Atlas Copco recently reported third quarter results with record profits and a strong organic order growth. Asia, Australia and South America all reported record order intake.

Organic orders received increased 35 percent to MSEK 19 316 (14 309) and revenues increased 18 percent organically to MSEK 17 743. Sequentially, sales of mining and industrial equipment improved while the order intake for construction equipment weakened somewhat. Operating profit increased to a new record of MSEK 3 782 (2 402), corresponding to an operating margin of 21.3 percent including restructuring costs.

“Better market penetration, new innovative products and a fantastic development for our aftermarket business, combined with a further enhanced customer focus has paid off,” said Ronnie Leten, president and CEO of the Atlas Copco Group. “I am particularly pleased to see that our energy efficient solutions and our service offering has gained solid ground at customers in the emerging markets.”

All business areas launched new products and solutions offering higher productivity, better ergonomics, increased safety, and improved energy efficiency. “We received some very large orders for mining and tunneling equipment from Kazakhstan and India and a major compressor order for the pipeline industry in Russia. These orders show a strong confidence in Atlas Copco’s products and services. In the quarter Atlas Copco acquired an Austrian mobile crushing operation, a Dutch biogas treatment company and a British drilling equipment company. These companies add complementary products to the Atlas Copco ranges. A new customer center was inaugurated in Panama and on the Group’s two largest markets – United States and China - new efficient distribution centers are established.

Atlas Copco also acquired a tool distributor in the United States to further penetrate the market. “The overall demand for the Group’s products and services is expected to increase somewhat. The sequential improvement is primarily expected to come from emerging markets.”

Atlas Copco discloses the information provided herein pursuant to the Securities Markets Act and/or the Financial Instruments Trading Act. Atlas Copco is an industrial group with world-leading positions in compressors, construction and mining equipment, power tools and assembly systems. The Group delivers sustainable solutions for increased customer productivity through innovative products and services. Founded 1873, the company is based in Stockholm, Sweden, and has a global reach spanning more than 170 countries. In 2009, Atlas Copco had about 30 000 employees and revenues of BSEK 64 (BEUR 6.0). Learn more at www.atlascopco.com.
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