ThyssenKrupp has made a good start to the new fiscal year 2005/2006. Initial provisional figures for the first three months (October to December 2005) show orders up 6.7 percent at EUR11.6 billion and sales up 8.1 percent at EUR10.9 billion. Earnings will be over EUR400 million.

ThyssenKrupp expects a generally positive performance in 2005/2006. The Group forecasts sales in the region of EUR43 billion.

Executive Board Chairman Dr. Ekkehard Schulz: "Our target for earnings before taxes - excluding major nonrecurring effects - this fiscal year is in the region of 1.5 billion euros. It would be the third year in succession in which we achieve this profit level, and a clear sign of our sustainable earning power."

Through organic growth, targeted strategic acquisitions and an even stronger service focus in all areas, ThyssenKrupp aims to achieve total sales of EUR45 to 50 billion in the medium term. Schulz: "We have raised our sustainable goal for earnings before taxes from EUR1.5 billion to EUR2 billion."

ThyssenKrupp is using IFRS for the first time in fiscal 2005/2006. Details on the switch from US GAAP to IFRS will be published in the interim report on the 1st quarter 2005/2006 on February 13, 2006.