Income continues to improve

Operating income for the first quarter of 2007 confirms clearly that all business areas are on the right track. We exceed our forecast and our income improved by about 25 percent over the same period last year. We also expanded our market shares in all regions.



Savings proceeded according to plan, and the product mix has been improved through successful product launches, especially in Europe, supported by comprehensive marketing campaigns. Operating income rose in all business areas, despite rising costs for raw materials and a weaker market in the US.

We continue to launch new products. Successful launches in Europe have been particularly satisfying. For example, the projected full-year sales for Iron Aid, the tumble dryer that reduces the need for ironing, were achieved as early as the end of March. During the first quarter we initiated the launch of our new built-in kitchen products, which is one of the largest in Group history. We are very satisfied with the results so far. The Electrolux ICON series of premium kitchen appliances has been launched with great success in the Latin American market. Other examples include the recent launch in the Asia/Pacific region of a four-door refrigerator with the widest interior Electrolux has ever offered.

Profitable growth is a vital component of our strategy. Especially satisfying is our continued very strong growth. Since 2005, sales of major appliances have improved continuously in every quarter in comparison with the preceding year. In the first quarter of this year, sales rose by 8 percent in comparable currencies. In the light of our continued investments in products with strong growth, additional leverage from regions with high growth, and our focus on sales channels that grow faster than the market, we see no reason to expect that this trend will be interrupted.

We are maintaining our forecast that operating income, excluding items affecting comparability, for 2007 will be somewhat higher than in 2006, despite increased costs for raw materials and uncertainty regarding the market development in the US.