Demant

Earnings Release • Feb 26, 2013

Company announcement no 2013-01 26 February 2013

Publication of Annual Report 2012

Continued top-line growth and strong cash flow from operating activities

Oticon Alta and the new Inium platform to generate further growth in 2013

Today, the Board of Directors of William Demant Holding A/S adopted the
Company's Annual Report 2012 and results that live up to the Group's most
recently announced outlook for 2012. This announcement includes the highlights
of the Annual Report:

-- In 2012, consolidated revenue totalled DKK 8,555 million, matching a growth
rate of just over 6%, with acquisitions and changes in foreign exchange
rates being the growth drivers, whereas organic growth was modest.
-- The Group's three business activities Hearing Devices, Diagnostic
Instruments and Personal Communication achieved growth rates in revenue of
5%, 23% and 8%, respectively.
-- In 2012, the Group generated an operating profit (EBIT) of DKK 1,653
million against DKK 1,709 million in 2011. The profit margin was 19.3%.
-- Consolidated cash flow from operating activities amounted to DKK 1,272
million, which is slightly above the 2011 level, if we adjust for the
payment of DKK 118 million in connection with the closing of the ETG patent
infringement case.
-- Oticon's new high-end hearing aid, Oticon Alta, which was successfully
launched in January 2013 and is based on the also brand new Inium platform,
sets new standards for natural sound and speech intelligibility. Oticon
Alta has been well received and is now available on all main markets.
-- In 2013, we expect organic revenue growth in our wholesale of hearing aids
to exceed market growth rates by 3-5 percentage points in local currencies
and thus expect to continue to increase our market share. In 2013,
corporate operating profit (EBIT) is expected to exceed the level realised
in 2012.

"After two years of strong growth in both revenue and earnings, the Group saw
more modest success in 2012. However, this development may not be such a
surprise after all, given the fact that in 2010 and 2011, we were able to
generate overall unit growth of almost 30% in the wholesale of
Group-manufactured hearing aids in a market that grew by a mere 3-4% annually
during this period," says Niels Jacobsen, President & CEO of William Demant
Holding and continues: "For the year as a whole, we generated unit growth in
the corporate wholesale of hearing aids just exceeding market growth, but, as
everyone knows, we aim much higher: With the launch in early January of a brand
new technological platform called Inium and the introduction of the promising
Premium family, Oticon Alta, we have embarked on the next platform and product
cycle, which is certain to generate renewed momentum for the Group in 2013."

Market conditions and business trends

For 2012, the global unit growth rate in the hearing aid market is thought to
have been 2-3%, and hearing aid sales are estimated at just over 10 million
units. The general economic slowdown, a less attractive product mix, keener
price competition as well as changes in structures and subsidies in a number of
European markets resulted, however, in flat to slightly negative trends in
revenue in our industry prior to a series of high-end launches at the end of
2012 and in early 2013.

Also in 2012, we succeeded in delivering unit growth in the wholesale of
hearing aids that outmatched market growth. However, sales in terms of value
did not see an equally positive development. Overall, our Hearing Devices
business generated 5% revenue growth, which was driven by changes in foreign
exchange rates and acquisitions.

Despite challenging market conditions, Oticon's modest success in 2012 was
thanks to a complete range of products based on the RISE 2 platform and
continuous focus on providing our customers with the best conditions for
selling solutions that match end-users' needs. The host of options for
customised hearing solutions requires close collaboration between manufacturer
and hearing care professional to ensure not only that the end-user gets the
right solution, but also that the hearing aid is individually fitted for
maximum benefit. The year also saw the launch of Oticon Intigai, a so-called
IIC hearing aid (Invisible-Inside-the-Canal).

With the introduction of Oticon Alta in January 2013, we launched our first
hearing aid based on the brand new Inium platform, which among other things
offers twice the working memory of the previous platform. Based on this new
processor, Oticon has introduced an entirely new anti-feedback system that will
set new standards in our industry, and on the whole, Alta offers a number of
audiological advantages that will considerably improve speech intelligibility
in the most difficult listening environments. Alta can, to an even greater
extent than it has been the case with previous products, be customised to match
individual user needs and preferences. At the launch of Oticon Alta in January,
Oticon also launched its new generation of wireless accessories in the
ConnectLine series, whose focal point is the new Streamer Pro, an accessory
that uses highly power-efficient wireless technology based on magnetic
induction and 2.4 GHz technology. The new Streamer Pro can communicate with a
very broad spectrum of Bluetooth units, and the possibilities for wireless
connection have been expanded to include linking to FM transmitters, telecoils,
IP telephony as well as a new and improved solution for landline phones.

A few weeks after its launch in January, Alta was available on all the Group's
main markets, in all styles and at two price points. The initial feedback from
dispensers and users has been extremely favourable, and Oticon has high
expectations, when it comes to being able to deliver the market's strongest
audiological products based on the Inium platform also in the years to come.

Having introduced the successful Chronos family in a RITE version
(Receiver-In-The-Ear), Bernafon continued its sturdy growth in 2012 and
reinforced its business partner relations by offering a comprehensive and
attractive product programme at competitive prices, resulting in an improved
product mix. Bernafon will continue to build its product portfolio in 2013,
gearing it for continuous growth and for capturing larger market shares in the
segments where it operates.

Sonic, which joined the William Demant Group at the end of 2010, managed to
enhance its profile in 2012 and introduced towards the end of the year an
all-new product family called Bliss, available at two price points in the
high-end price range. With further launches and the establishment of the Sonic
brand on new markets, 2013 will be another exciting year for the company, which
will continue to focus on being a dynamic and innovative business partner under
stable ownership.

With both organic and acquired growth, Group retail activities saw overall
favourable development in 2012. Compared to the general market growth in those
countries where we operate, retailing trends were, however, fairly satisfactory
in 2012.

Again in 2012, Oticon Medical saw solid sales growth in all regions and
continues to capture market shares. High reliability, an attractive and
user-friendly design and unique audiological advantages already found in
Oticon's traditional hearing aids have contributed to Oticon Medical – within a
very few years – having captured a fourth of the world market in bone-anchored
hearing solutions. The introduction of a new and innovative implant system that
ensures better and quicker integration of the implant itself has been a vital
growth factor in 2012.

A global market leader in audiological equipment, Diagnostic Instruments
realised revenue of DKK 844 million in 2012, or a satisfactory growth rate of
just over 18% in local currencies, with organic growth accounting for 2
percentage points. The acquired growth relates primarily to distribution
activities acquired in the USA and to the three diagnostic equipment
manufacturers acquired in 2011 and 2012, namely Micromedical, MedRx and Sensory
Devices. The result of recent years' industry consolidation has limited the
opportunities for future acquisitions. Consequently, we will focus on
integrating and developing the companies already acquired and on continuing to
generate organic growth. Over a number of years, Diagnostic Instruments has
built strong market positions in most product categories, and with its
multi-brand strategy, it covers every major customer segment in all the
important geographic regions. In terms of value, the total global market for
diagnostic equipment is estimated to have grown by 2% in 2012. Thus, the global
macro-economic slowdown does not appear to have caused growth to stagnate or
decline, although competition seems to have intensified.

In 2012, Personal Communication realised revenue of DKK 301 million, or 5%
growth in local currencies. This improvement in revenue is mainly due to fair
growth in Sennheiser Communications and is partially driven by growth in the PC
and mobile phone segments. In the same period, Phonic Ear and FrontRow recorded
a slight improvement despite difficult market conditions.

Financial review

Consolidated sales in 2012 were positively affected by acquisitions and changes
in exchange rates, each contributing by about 3% to growth, which, with
moderate organic growth, resulted in revenue totalling DKK 8,555 million.

Operating profit (EBIT) for the year totalled DKK 1,653 million, or a fall of
DKK 56 million compared with 2011. One of the reasons for this fall is the fact
that revenue growth in the wholesale of hearing aids was relatively modest and
was affected by the transition in autumn to consignment stock in the public
hearing care services in Norway, resulting in an adverse one-off effect on the
Group's operating profit (EBIT) of about DKK 40 million in the second
half-year. The Group's practice to recognise losses and gains on forward
exchange contracts in revenue also impacted our revenue as well as our
operating profit (EBIT) by DKK -101 million in 2012 (DKK 26 million in 2011).
In 2012, our profit margin was 19.3%, corresponding to a fall of 2 percentage
points

Consolidated cash flow from operating activities totalled DKK 1,272 million in
2012, and the free cash flow amounted to DKK 782 million, or a fall of DKK 113
million compared with 2011. The lower level in 2012 can be attributed to the
realisation of provisions and to the payment of interest in connection with the
settlement of a patent infringement case, please see Other matters. The Group
thus maintains its strong ability to convert a considerable share of profit for
the year into actual cash flow.

Other matters

In 2012, the Company bought a total of 979,367 treasury shares worth DKK 497
million.

Since 2005, the Group has been party to a patent infringement case filed by the
New York-based Energy Transportation Group (ETG). Charges were originally
brought against the entire hearing aid industry based on two expired patents,
which – according to the ETG – include certain aspects of the anti-feedback
technology normally used in hearing aids. In the case in question against our
Company, an appellate court (Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit)
indicated in October 2012 that the jury had been presented with the correct
particulars of the case. Having received the appellate court's rejection of our
petition for the court to reconsider the actual infringement, we chose not to
appeal the decision to the Supreme Court, so we now consider the case closed.
In 2007, the Group made a provision to cover any damages and legal costs in
this respect. The residual provision, which at the beginning of the year
amounted to DKK 94 million, is set off against damages, legal costs and
interest totalling DKK 118 million.

Outlook for 2013

The introduction of Oticon's newest high-end product family, Oticon Alta, in
January 2013 heralds a significant audiological improvement, which means
greater advantages for users and dispensers alike. The cornerstone of Oticon
Alta is the new Inium platform, which ushers in a new product generation for
the Group's largest hearing aid brand. The first feedback from dispensers and
end-users after the launch has been positive and supports us in our belief that
we can generate growth and capture market share in the years to come – and thus
also in 2013.

Despite Oticon Alta's qualities and market potential, we believe that the
present outlook for the global hearing aid market – and thus for the Group – is
subject to greater uncertainty than normally owing to a range of structural
factors, including growth in markets and distribution channels with lower
average selling prices. To this should be added further uncertainty due to
changes in subsidy systems and government spending patterns in a number of
countries. At the beginning of the year, it is therefore our best prediction
that the global hearing aid market will record modest value growth in 2013.

Against this backdrop, organic growth in the Group's wholesale of hearing aids
is expected to exceed market growth rates by 3-5 percentage points in local
currencies in 2013, whereas our retail business is expected to deliver an
organic growth rate on a par with the underlying market. Moreover, we expect
Diagnostic Instruments to also capture market share organically in 2013 in a
market that is anticipated to record low, single-digit growth. To this should
be added the effect of any exchange rate impacts.

In 2013, corporate operating profit (EBIT) is expected to exceed the level
realised in 2012.

The Group is expected to have an effective tax rate of approximately 25% in
2013, and investments are expected to hover at the 2012 level.

Also in 2013, we intend to buy treasury shares. To this end, we will continue
to apply our share buyback programme to channel the Group's surplus cash flow
back to the shareholders, and we aim to maintain the level of net
interest-bearing debt at around DKK 1.5-2.0 billion. Buybacks will, in line
with customary Group practice, be adjusted on a continuous basis to reflect the
extent of acquisitions and investments.

Lars Nørby Johansen
Niels Jacobsen

Chairman of the Board
President & CEO

The full Annual Report 2012 for William Demant Holding A/S totalling 92 pages
will be published

immediately after this announcement.

                              ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨

Further information:
Other contacts:

Niels Jacobsen, President & CEO Stefan
Ingildsen, SVP Finance

Phone +45 3917 7100 Søren B.
Andersson, VP IR

www.demant.com
Morten Lehmann Nielsen, IR Manager

                                2012   2011   2010   2009    2008  Developme
                                                                          nt
                                                                   2011-2012

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Key figures, DKK million

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Revenue 8,555 8,041 6,892 5,701 5,374 6.4%
Gross profit 6,127 5,777 4,959 4,035 3,725 6.1%
Operating profit (EBIT) 1,653 1,709 1,430 1,149 1,042 -3.3%
Net financial items -132 -103 -116 -94 -139 28.2%
Profit before tax 1,521 1,606 1,314 1,055 903 -5.3%
Profit for the year 1,151 1,199 988 795 682 -4.0%
Assets 8,777 7,646 6,786 4,626 3,914 14.8%
Equity 4,059 3,304 2,443 1,302 532 22.9%
Cash flow from operating 1,272 1,381 826 950 828 -7.9%
activities (CFFO)

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Financial ratios

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Gross margin 71.6% 71.8% 71.9% 70.8% 69.3% -
Profit margin (EBIT margin) 19.3% 21.3% 20.7% 20.2% 19.4% -
Earnings per share (EPS), DKK 20.2 20.6 16.9 13.6 11.6 -1.9%
Return on equity 31.8% 41.7% 49.5% 87.2% 162.9% -

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