Sydney - Tuesday - August 15: (RWE Aust Business News) -...

Sydney - Tuesday - August 15: (RWE Aust Business News) - Cochlear
Ltd (ASX:COH) reported a record net profit of $80.03 million for the year
to June 30 2006, up 34 per cent on the prior year's $59.64m profit.
Revenue was up 30pc to $452.26m from $349m previously.
A final dividend of 55c, fully franked, will be paid September 21
with record date August 31.
Total dividends for the year add to $1, steady with last year.
Earnings per share was 146.8c against 110.1c previously.

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Outlook
Cochlear said there was a huge unmet clinical need for its
products while clinical outcomes are improving through better technology.
"For FY07 we anticipate another year of growth with core
earnings guidance of $100 million," the company said.

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Result
Revenue improvement was driven by an increase in cochlear implant
revenues, up 24pc, and full year contribution from Baha and Vistafix
product lines acquired in March 2005.
Offsetting increases in cochlear implant and Baha revenues was a
23pc reduction in gains from foreign exchange contracts (used to hedge
regional net cash flow) from $26.8m last year to $20.7m in FY06.
All regions contributed to growth with the standout regions being
Americas, sales revenue up 50pc (in constant currency terms) to $198.2m,
followed by Europe, up 35pc, to $173.7m.
Asia-Pacific was up 7pc, to $59.7m.
In March 2005 Cochlear acquired the Swedish company Entific
Medical Systems and so FY06 was the first full year of owning this
business.
Existing product lines consist of Baha and Vistafix.
Cochlear has created a new division (Bone Anchored Solutions) and
has successfully integrated most of the customer support activities
around the world.
Bone Anchored Solutions sales in FY06 were $51.7m, 30pc over FY05
sales (assuming the business had been owned for all of FY05).
Cochlear shares were down $2.47 to $49.88.