Ad-hoc | 30 July 2003 07:32

Krones AG english

Report for the 1st half of 2003 – KRONES improves its figures yet again Ad-hoc-announcement transmitted by DGAP. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ——————————————————————————– Report for the 1st half of 2003 – KRONES improves its figures yet again The mid-year figures confirm that KRONES AG has put in place the right policies to cope with a less-than-easy macro-economic environment. For the fourth time in succession, the world’s market leader for beverage bottling, canning and packaging machinery improved its figures on a like-for-like basis for sales, order bookings and profits. Order bookings at KRONES during the first six months of the current business year rose by 9.5 % to reach 663.9 million euros. Consolidated sales in the first half of the year, at 717.5 million euros, were up by 7.1 %. Profits also showed a gratifying increase in the year’s first half. Earnings after taxes rose by 6.8 % to reach 34.4 million euros. The substantial rise in both sales and profits is also the result of “lean” planning at KRONES, continual optimisation of process sequences inside the company, capital investment in new machinery for upgrading productivity, intensified research and development, plus stringent cost control and a restrictive hiring policy. For the year as a whole, the KRONES Group is now anticipating sales of more than 1.4 billion euros – an increase of 9 %. Order bookings are set to show a similarly steep rise. Profits for the year after taxes are expected to top 60 million euros. You will also find this press release for downloading on the internet under http://www.krones.com . end of ad-hoc-announcement (c)DGAP 30.07.2003 ——————————————————————————– WKN: 633500; ISIN: DE0006335003; Index: MDAX Listed: Amtlicher Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard) und München; Freiverkehr in Berlin-Bremen, Düsseldorf, Hamburg und Stuttgart 300732 Jul 03