Business performance

Economically speaking, 2002/2003 was the year of unfulfilled forecasts. Despite this, ThyssenKrupp performed well: Sales at €36.1 billion were almost level with the previous year; earnings before taxes reached €714 million, excluding disposal gains and losses the figure was €734 million; earnings per share increased significantly to €1.01. We can thus propose to the Annual Stockholders' Meeting a dividend of €0.50, €0.10 more than a year earlier. In 2003/2004, given a recovering economy, we expect a growing level of business, higher earnings, progress in the optimization of our portfolio – and hence a further strengthening of your Company for the future.