Significant earnings increase from 96 million euros to 250 million euros
1st half improvement to 391 million euros

The 2nd quarter of fiscal 2002/2003 was dominated by the continued economic weakness, coupled with major political uncertainties. Despite this, ThyssenKrupp`s sales were slightly higher than the prior-year period. Boosted by increasing efficiency improvements, the Group`s income before taxes and minority interest rose to 250 million euros in the 2nd fiscal quarter compared with 96 million euros a year earlier.

The highlights for the 2nd quarter and the first six months of fiscal 2002/2003 were as follows:

- Order intake in the reporting quarter was 9.1 billion euros, 1% lower than the prior-year period. Orders in the 1st half of 2002/2003 were roughly the same as a year earlier at 18.2 billion euros.

- Sales in the 2nd quarter were 9.2 billion euros, 2% higher than a year earlier. 1st-half sales were 17.9 billion euros, up 3% from the year-earlier period.

- EBITDA in the 2nd quarter was 691 million euros, up 22% from a year earlier. In the 1st half EBITDA was 1,279 million euros, up 20%.

- 2nd-quarter income before taxes and minority interest was 250 million euros, 154 million euros higher than the prior-year period . The figure for the 1st half of fiscal 2002/2003 was 391 million euros, an increase of 267 million euros compared with a year earlier.

- Basic earnings per share were 0.31 euros in the 2nd quarter after 0.13 euros in the prior-year period.

- Normalized earnings per share rose from 0.01 euros in the 2nd quarter of 2001/2002 to 0.22 euros.

- The Group`s net financial payables amounted to 4.9 billion euros at March 31, 2003, 189 million euros higher than at September 30, 2002. The increase is partly due to the dividend payment. Compared with March 31, 2002, the Group`s financial debt fell by 2.4 billion euros.

Professor Dr. Ekkehard Schulz, Executive Board Chairman of ThyssenKrupp AG: "We do not yet expect any major improvement in the economic environment in the 2nd half of 2002/2003. Nevertheless we will continue to strengthen our earning power." Assuming no further deterioration in the economic parameters, the company aims to achieve 2nd-half earnings before taxes which should at least match the 1st-half figure. This would take ThyssenKrupp a major step closer to its goal of 1.5 billion euros EBT in fiscal 2003/2004.

The full interim report is available in German and English; both versions can also be viewed online or downloaded at http://www.thyssenkrupp.com.

Contact:

Dr. Jürgen Claassen
Corporate Communications and Central Bureau
Telephon +49 211 824-36002
Fax +49 211 824-36005
E-mail: presse@tk.thyssenkrupp.com
www.thyssenkrupp.com