Ad-hoc | 5 June 2003 07:30

voestalpine AG english

voestalpine in 2002/2003 with the second best result in the history of the Group Ad-hoc-announcement transmitted by DGAP. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ——————————————————————————– voestalpine in 2002/2003 with the second best result in the history of the Group For the current financial year 2003/2004, a further improvement of sales and result is expected. In the 2002/2003 financial year, the voestalpine Group continued its strategy of value-adding growth-increasing sales, while at the same time, improving profitability-despite the difficult economic environment. Substantial increase of all relevant key figures · In the 2002/2003 financial year, sales increased by 31% from EUR 3,353.7 million to EUR 4,391.9 million. About 90% of this sales growth is derived from the newly acquired companies, while the remainder is attributable to endogenous growth of the individual companies of the Divisions Steel, Railway Systems, and motion. · EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) rose by 28.3% from EUR 402.2 million to EUR 516.1 million. · The increase in earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) was even more substantial, improving by 39.8% from EUR 159.5 million to EUR 223.0 million. · The result from ordinary activities increased by 34.4% from EUR 90.8 million to EUR 122.0 million, despite the extraordinary loss incurred from the write- down of the interest in VA Technologie AG as of March 31, 2003 versus March 31, 2002 in the amount of EUR 39.6 million (before taxes). · As compared to the previous financial year, the net income rose from EUR 54.9 million to EUR 78.0 million (+ 42.1%). · The earnings per share for the 2002/2003 financial year amount to EUR 1.99 compared to EUR 1.68 in the previous year. · Contingent on the approval by the Annual General Shareholders’ Meeting, voestalpine AG will-as in the past three years-pay out a dividend of EUR 1.20 per share. end of ad-hoc-announcement (c)DGAP 05.06.2003 ——————————————————————————– WKN: 093750; ISIN: AT0000937503; Index: ATX Listed: Amtlicher Handel in Wien; Freiverkehr in Berlin-Bremen, Frankfurt, Hamburg, München, Stuttgart; London 050730 Jun 03