Ad-hoc | 18 March 2003 12:05

Fuchs Petrolub AG english

Sales and profits up substantially at FUCHS Ad-hoc-announcement transmitted by DGAP. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ——————————————————————————– Sales and profits up substantially at FUCHS The globally operating lubricants producer FUCHS PETROLUB AG in Mannheim, Germany, finished 2002 with a sizable increase in sales and the highest consolidated profits in its history. This uptrend continued into January and February of 2003. end of ad-hoc-announcement (c)DGAP 18.03.2003 Issuer’s information/explanatory remarks concerning this ad-hoc-announcement: In the past business year, sales exceeded one billion euros for the first time, growing by EUR 125 mn or 13.3 % to reach EUR 1,065 mn (940). Internal growth came to 5.8 %, since the quantities sold showed a substantial rise, especially in Asia. By contrast, worldwide demand for lubricants increased during 2002 by a mere 0.3 % in real terms. A significant contribution to sales came from external growth (+11.3 %), with a particular boost from first-time full consolidation of FUCHS EUROPE SCHMIERSTOFFE GMBH (+ EUR 97.6 mn), while currency translation reduced the sales figure by EUR 36.1 mn (-3.8 %). Consolidated profits after tax, which in the first nine months of 2002, after goodwill amortization of EUR 11.4 mn affecting earnings in full, were up by more than 150 % to reach EUR 19.0 mn (7.5), increased still further in the fourth quarter of 2002, so that in the past business year the group achieved by far the best result in its entire history. The definitive figures will be published on 15 April. In the first two months of the ongoing business year, sales came to EUR 173.4 mn, and were thus, despite substantial effects from currency translation, still at last years level (173.2). Adjusted for currency translation factors, internal growth came to 6.7 %, external growth to 1.3 %. Monthly results have continued to be good. Mannheim, 18 March 2003 FUCHS PETROLUB AG Public Relations Friesenheimer Str. 17 D-68169 Mannheim Tel.: +49 (0) 621 3802-104 The ad hoc release is also available on the internet under http://www.fuchs- oil.de. ——————————————————————————– WKN: 579040; ISIN: DE0005790406; Index: Listed: Amtlicher Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard) und Stuttgart; Freiverkehr in Hamburg und München; Swiss Exchange 181205 Mär 03