Edelman - DLV


27 - 4 - 2005

Canon Inc. noteert een winststijging van 10,4 procent over eerste kwartaal

Canon rapporteert over het eerste kwartaal van 2005 een netto omzet van 843,4 miljard yen (EUR 6,067 miljard), een stijging van 5,7 procent ten opzichte van het eerste kwartaal van 2004. De nettowinst over het eerste kwartaal was 93,1 miljard yen (EUR 669 miljoen), wat 10,4 procent meer is dan in 2004 en een winst per aandeel van 104,93 yen (EUR 0,75) vertegenwoordigt.

"De omzetstijging van Canon Inc. is vooral te danken aan de stijgende verkoop van kleurencopiers en -printers en de stabiele verkoopcijfers van digitale camera's", aldus Toshizo Tanaka, Senior Managing Director en Group Executive for Finance and Accounting Headquarters, Canon Inc. Ondanks het feit dat Tanaka voor het komende jaar moeilijke marktomstandigheden voorspelt, verwacht hij ook komend jaar, voor de zesde achtereenvolgende keer, de omzet- en winstcijfers te zullen overtreffen.

Zie hieronder het volledige Europese persbericht.

Voor verdere informatie en achtergrondinformatie zie: www.canon.com/ir/index.html

Canon Inc. Reports Record Results for First-Quarter 2005

LONDON - April 27, 2005 - Canon Europe Ltd., a subsidiary of Canon Inc. (NYSE: CAJ - news) and a leader in imaging technologies, today announced Canon Inc. first-quarter 2005 consolidated net sales of 843.4 billion yen (EUR 6.067 billion), which represents a year-over-year increase of 5.7% over first-quarter 2004.

Canon reported first-quarter net income of 93.1 billion yen (EUR 669 million), which represents a year-over-year increase of 10.4% and basic earnings per share of 104.93 yen (EUR 0.75). Operating profit also advanced, improving 7.3% over first-quarter 2004.

The increase in net sales was due to strong sales of color copying machines and color laser beam printers as demand for office color has increased and stable sales of digital cameras, said Toshizo Tanaka, Senior Managing Director and Group Executive for Finance and Accounting Headquarters, Canon Inc.

Mr. Tanaka added, Although a difficult environment is expected in the second quarter and for the full year, we expect to exceed our sales and profit results of last year and achieve our sixth consecutive year of sales and profit growth.

For more detailed information and tables, please refer to our Announcement of First-Quarter 2005 financial results at: www.canon.com/ir/index.html

This release may contain forward-looking statements with respect to future results, performance and achievements that are subject to risk and uncertainties and reflect managements views and assumptions formed by available information. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be considered forward-looking statements. When used in this release, words such as anticipate, believe, estimate, expect, intend, may, plan, project or should and similar expressions, as they relate to Canon, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Many factors could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Canon to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, among others, changes in general economic and business conditions, changes in currency exchange rates and interest rates, introduction of competing products by other companies, lack of acceptance of new products or services by Canons targeted customers, inability to meet efficiency and cost reduction objectives, changes in business strategy and various other factors, both referenced and not referenced in this release. A detailed description of these and other risk factors is included in Canons annual report on Form 20-F, which is on file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein. Canon does not intend or assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

Note: In this release, Euro amounts are translated from yen at the rate of EUR = JPY139, the approximate exchange rate on the Tokyo Foreign Exchange Market as of March 31, 2005, solely for the convenience of the reader.

About Canon Europe
Canon Europe is a subsidiary of Canon Inc. of Japan, a world-leading innovator and provider of imaging and information technology solutions for individuals and businesses.

The main business focus for Canon Europe is in two clearly defined markets: Business Solutions (developing IT products, solutions and services for the office and professional print environments) and Consumer Imaging (photo, video, Bubble Jet printers, scanners, fax machines and multifunction devices). Canon Europe also provides Industrial Products including broadcast lenses, semiconductor and medical equipment. Canon Europe employs in the region of 11,000 people across 19 countries. Further information about Canon Europe is available at: www.canon-europe.com

Meer over Canon:
Persberichten
Achtergrondinformatie
Beeldmateriaal
website: www.canon.nl

Marcel Surendonk
Canon Nederland
tel: 023 567 0211
e-mail: m.surendonk@canon.nl

Edelman
Leoni Janssen
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