Canon Inc. publiceert jaarcijfers 2004

In het vierde kwartaal van 2004 steeg de omzet met 9,6 procent ten opzichte van dezelfde periode in 2003, naar 981,1 miljard yen (EUR 6909 miljoen). De netto winst steeg in het laatste kwartaal met 7,8 procent ten opzichte van een jaar eerder naar 80,8 miljard yen (EUR 569 miljoen).

In het officiële persbericht zegt Toshizo Tanaka, Senior Managing Director en Group Executive for Finance and Accounting Headquaters, Canon Inc. positief te zijn. Hij verwacht dat de positieve ontwikkelingen voor de kernactiviteiten zich voortzetten. Verder rekent hij erop dat Canon volgend jaar voor de zesde keer op rij groei van omzet en winst zal laten zien.

Zie hieronder het volledige Europese persbericht.

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

# # #

Perscontact:

Marcel Surendonk
PR-manager Canon Nederland
023 - 567 0211
mailto:m.surendonk@canon.nl
www.canon.nl

Leoni Janssen
Edelman
023 - 5542030
mailto:leoni.janssen@edelman.com
www.edelmannederland.nl
 

# # #

CANON INC. REPORTS RECORD RESULTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2004

LONDON - January 28, 2005 -- Canon Europe Ltd., a subsidiary of Canon Inc. (NYSE: CAJ - news) and a leader in imaging technologies, today announced Canon Inc. fiscal-year 2004 consolidated net sales of 3,467.9 billion yen     (EUR 24,422 million), which represents a year-over-year increase of 8.4% over fiscal year 2003.

Canon reported 2004 net income of 343.3 billion yen (EUR 2,418 million), which represents a year-over-year increase of 24.5% and basic earnings per share of 387.80 yen (EUR 2.73).

Operating profit also advanced, improving 19.7% over fiscal year 2003.

Canon reported fourth-quarter revenue of 981.1 billion yen (EUR 6,909 million), 9.6% higher than fourth quarter 2003 with net income of 80.8 billion yen (EUR 569 million), 7.8% higher than fourth quarter 2003.

"For the full-year, all of our core businesses realized sales growth. As a result, we achieved our fifth consecutive year of net sales and net income growth," said Mr Toshizo Tanaka, Senior Managing Director and Group Executive for Finance and Accounting Headquarters, Canon Inc..

Mr Tanaka added, "We expect the positive momentum of core businesses to continue.  This, combined with cost-cutting efforts, will improve our ability to respond to changes in the business environment, enabling us to achieve a sixth straight year of sales and profit growth."

For more detailed information and tables, please refer to our Announcement of Fiscal-Year 2004 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 management's 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 Canon's 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 Canon's 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 = JPY142, the approximate exchange rate on the Tokyo Foreign Exchange Market as of December 30, 2004, solely for the convenience of the reader.

- ENDS -

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