The ThyssenKrupp success trend continues unabated. The favorable market environment and above all ThyssenKrupp’s good strategic positioning are paying off. All segments produced a very pleasing performance in the 3rd quarter 2006/2007. ThyssenKrupp recorded double-digit growth rates in order intake and sales. The Group’s earnings before taxes increased to €1,219 million from €806 million in the prior-year quarter. This represents another quarterly earnings record. In the first nine months of the current fiscal year the Group has thus achieved earnings before taxes of €2,853 million (2005/2006: €2,004 million). Dr. Ekkehard Schulz, Executive Board Chairman of ThyssenKrupp AG: “We expect the overall positive performance to continue in the further course of the year. For fiscal year 2006/2007 we anticipate an increase in sales to over €50 billion. Based on our better-than-expected earnings performance in the first three quarters of fiscal 2006/2007, we currently forecast full-year earnings before taxes and major nonrecurring items of around €3.6 billion, including nonrecurring items €3.2 billion.”

The highlights for the 3rd quarter and the first nine months of 2006/2007 were as follows:
･ Compared with the prior-year quarter, order intake increased by 25% to €15.6 billion. Order intake in the first nine months was €42.8 billion (prior year: €36.8 billion)

･ Sales rose by 11% to €13.4 billion, and in the first nine months to €38.9 billion (prior year: €34.9 billion).

･ EBITDA improved from €1,290 million in the prior year to €1,728 million; in the first nine months EBITDA increased from €3.5 billion to €4.3 billion.

･ Earnings before taxes increased to €1,219 million from €806 million in the prior-year quarter; in the first nine months EBT rose to €2,853 million from €2,004 million in the prior-year period.

･ Earnings per share increased to €1.49 from €0.87 in the prior-year quarter; in the first nine months EPS rose to €3.25 from €2.20 in the prior year.

･ Net financial liabilities at June 30, 2007 were €806 million. This represents an increase of €1,553 million compared with September 30, 2006, when ThyssenKrupp reported net financial receivables of €747 million. On June 30, 2006 net financial receivables stood at €496 million.
ThyssenKrupp’s mid-term and longer-term targets remain unchanged. Schulz: “By 2010 the aim is to achieve sustainable earnings before taxes and major nonrecurring items of €4 billion on sales of around €60 billion. In the longer term, particularly after the completion of our major investment projects in North America, we expect sales in the region of €65 billion and earnings before taxes and major nonrecurring items of €4.5 to 5.0 billion.”

German and English versions of the full interim report are available for downloading and as an online version at http://www.thyssenkrupp.com.