Pre-Close Trading Statement
05.04.2006
LONDON, 05 April 2006 – Optos plc (LSE: OPTS), a leading medical technology company for the design, development, manufacturing and marketing of retinal imaging devices, today is updating the market ahead of entering its pre-close period for the six-month period ended 31 March 2006. The Group will announce its interim results on 25 May 2006.
Trading for the year to date has been in line with market expectations, with deepened penetration in existing markets, particularly in the Group's core North American market and through steady organic sales growth across Germany and the UK. Delivering consistent sales growth and improved cost efficiencies throughout the business remain core objectives, as set out at the time of the Group's IPO in February of this year.
Optos continues to benefit from its proprietary scanning laser technology device, the strength of its core retinal image product and growing acceptance rates among practitioners and patients, which is due to the unequalled combination of wide-field retinal imaging, speed and convenience of the P200 device and the clinical usefulness of the resulting optomap® retinal image.
Overall, management remain confident in the Group's trading prospects and overall financial performance for FY 2006.
Notes to Editors
About Optos plc
Optos is incorporated in Scotland under the Companies Act 1985 with registered number SC139953 and with its subsidiaries collectively is known as Optos plc. Founded in 1992 Optos plc is a leading medical technology company for the design, development, manufacturing and marketing of devices able to image the retina, the light-sensitive area at the back of the eye. Optos’ platform technology is the Panoramic200 Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope device – known as the P200. In a quarter of a second the P200 device produces a high resolution image of up to 200 degrees or approximately 80 percent of the retina in a single capture. The image – branded the optomap® – provides eye care practitioners with clinically useful information that facilitates the early detection of disorders and diseases evidenced in the retina. Optos believes that its technology provides an unequalled combination of wide-field retinal imaging, speed and convenience for both practitioner and patient. Optos plc is headquartered in Dunfermline, Scotland and currently has approximately 200 employees serving more than 2,000 customers in four country markets – USA, Canada, UK and Germany. Optos plc trades on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange under the symbol OPTS.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts but rather are based on the Company's current expectations, estimates and projections about its industry, its beliefs and assumptions. Words such as 'anticipates,' 'expects,' 'intends,' 'plans,' 'believes,' 'seeks,' 'estimates,' and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond the Company's control, are difficult to predict and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements. The Company cautions shareholders and prospective shareholders not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect the view of the Company only as of the date of this announcement. The forward-looking statements made in this announcement relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. The Company will not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions or updates to these forward-looking statements to reflect events, circumstances or unanticipated events occurring after the date of this announcement except as required by law or by any appropriate regulatory authority.