DGAP-Adhoc: KRONES AG:Krones ups its sales by 14.3 % in the year’s first half

| Source: EQS Group AG EQS Group AG 

Krones AG / Half Year Results

29.07.2008 

Release of a Adhoc News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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Krones AG, the world’s market leader for beverage filling and packaging
technology, smoothly progressed its vigorous growth during the first half
of 2008. Sales were up by 14.3 % on the preceding year’s figure, from
1,053.9 to 1,204.9 million euros. Order bookings rose by 12.0 % to reach
1,242.5 million euros.
On 30 June 2008, Krones possessed a comfortable order backlog of 928.4
million euros (preceding year: 802.3 million euros).

One of Krones’ principal growth drivers during the year’s first half was
clients’ rising level of demand for complete, single-sourced job packages.
Since the company offers the entire spectrum of products and services
required for building bottling and canning plants, it is benefiting
significantly from this trend. International corporations in particular,
who are building an abundance of new factories in regions like Eastern
Europe, Asia and Africa, are keen to make use of Krones’ full-service
capabilities.

Profitability further upgraded 

Earnings before taxes during the year’s first half, at 91.8 million euros,
were up by 21.3 % on a like-for-like basis. The EBT margin (earnings before
taxes in relation to sales) thus improved from 7.2 % to 7.6 %.
Profits after taxes rose by 31.1 %, from 47.6 to 62.4 million euros.
Earnings per share during the period under review climbed from 1.49 to 1.98
euros.

Outlook

Krones’ long-term target is to increase its sales each year within a
corridor of 5 to 10 %. In view of the group’s healthy performance in the
year’s first half, and the auspicious prospects, the Executive Board
expects growth in sales during 2008 to be near the upper end of the
forecast corridor, with revenues exceeding 2.3 billion euros.
Krones is aiming to further improve the pretax return on sales (EBT margin)
in 2008 (preceding year: 7.1 %). With an EBT margin of 7.6 % in the first
half of this year, the company is well on the way to achieving this target.
Since it is benefiting from the reform of the German corporation tax,
earnings after taxes will show a steeper increase than their pretax
equivalent.

The complete midyear report for 2008 can be viewed under:
www.krones.com/Investor Relations.



Your contact person 
Olaf Scholz
Head of Investor Relations Krones AG
Tel.: +49 9401 70-1169
Mobile: +49 151 12248730
Email: olaf.scholz@krones.com



Contact:
Olaf Scholz
Leiter Investor Relations
Tel.: +49 (0) 9401 - 701169
E-Mail: olaf.scholz@krones.com


DGAP 29.07.2008 
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Language:     English
Issuer:       Krones AG
              Böhmerwaldstraße 5
              93073 Neutraubling
              Deutschland
Phone:        +49 (0)9401 703258
Fax:          +49 (0)9401 703786
E-mail:       investor-relations@krones.com
Internet:     www.krones.com
ISIN:         DE0006335003
WKN:          633500
Indices:      MDAX
Listed:       Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard), München;
              Freiverkehr in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Stuttgart
End of News                                     DGAP News-Service
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