trading halt, page-12

Difficult to get fix on financial effect until details released. Medicare data indicates what appears to be most common procedural claim of around 200,000 a year, at around $250 each rebate. VEI understood to hold less than 10% mkt share. If a hit to earnings is coming, very rough guess could be as high as $1.5m - $2m ebit drop at 100% cut back, allowing for variable remuneration to absorb 65% of gross amount. Doctor group was successful in campaign to reduce cataract rebate cuts when Roxon was minister, so may remain unresolved for some time if this is case. Speculation only.