DGAP-Adhoc: Wacker Construction Equipment AG: Preliminary H1 results; forecast

Wacker Construction Equipment AG / Preliminary Results/Forecast

31.07.2008 

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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(Munich, July 31, 2008) Based on preliminary figures, sales generated by
Wacker Construction Equipment AG (soon to be Wacker Neuson SE) rose in the
first six months of 2008 to around EUR 472 million (previous year: EUR
341.7 million), as a result of the merger. Preliminary results also show
that profit before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA)
grew to approximately EUR 63 million (previous year: EUR 55.3 million).
Profit for the first half year was influenced by the high levels of
investment and intensive sales activities undertaken by the Group. This
includes the large-scale stocking of Group-owned rental and demo fleets
with compact equipment manufactured by the Group. As a result, the profit
that would otherwise be generated by selling these products to non-Group
companies could not be realized during the period under review.

The downturn in the general economic global climate during the first half
of the year was fuelled in part by the US subprime crisis, the weakening of
the US dollar and the increase in the price of raw materials. This has
negatively impacted construction markets in the USA and increasingly those
in Western Europe that play an important role in the company’s performance.
Following good results in April, this development led to a sharp decline in
demand for products from the light equipment portfolio in May and June. The
Group expects this trend to continue during the second half of the year and
to influence orders placed by customers for products from the light and
compact equipment business segments.

This assumption plus the preliminary figures for the first half of 2008
have led the Group to revise its original prognosis for fiscal 2008. Wacker
Construction Equipment AG (soon to be Wacker Neuson SE) now expects sales
of at least EUR 870 million and an EBITDA margin of at least 11 percent
after purchase price allocation. After the merger the company is in a
strong position and, in view of global economic forecasts for the
construction and agricultural industries, continues to look to the future
with confidence.


Maintaining its high equity ratio in excess of 70 percent, the Group
continues to pursue its long-term growth strategy. This includes in
particular measures aimed at launching compact equipment via the existing
worldwide sales and service network, expanding the rental business in
Central and Eastern Europe as well as increasing production capacity.

The complete half-year report will be released on August 14, 2008.

Additional information on Wacker Construction Equipment AG shares:
ISIN: DE000WACK012 
WKN: WACK01
Admission: Official market / Prime Standard; Frankfurt Stock Exchange
Company headquarters: Germany

Contact partner:
Wacker Construction Equipment AG 
Imre Szerdahelyi
Head of Corporate Communication 
Preußenstr. 41
80809 Munich, Germany 
Tel. + 49 - (0)89 - 354 02 – 251
E-mail: ir@eu.wackergroup.com 
Internet: www.wackerneuson.com

Disclaimer: 

This publication constitutes neither an offer to sell nor an invitation to
buy securities.

This document does not constitute an offer of securities for sale or a
solicitation of an offer to purchase securities in the United States. The
shares in Wacker Construction Equipment AG (the 'Shares') may not be
offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption
from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended. None
of the parties involved intends to register any portion of the offering in
the United States or to conduct a public offering of the Shares in the
United States.

This document is only being distributed to and is only directed at (i)
persons who are outside the United Kingdom or (ii) to investment
professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and
Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the 'Order') or (iii)
high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be
communicated, falling within Article 49(2), (a) to (d) of the Order (all
such persons together being referred to as 'relevant persons').
DGAP 31.07.2008 
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Language:     English
Issuer:       Wacker Construction Equipment AG
              Preußenstr. 41
              80809 München
              Deutschland
Phone:        +49 - (0)89 - 354 02 - 0
Fax:          +49 - (0)89 - 354 02 - 390
E-mail:       info@eu.wackergroup.com
Internet:     www.wackerneuson.com
ISIN:         DE000WACK012
WKN:          WACK01
Listed:       Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr
              in Berlin, Hannover, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, München, Stuttgart
End of News                                     DGAP News-Service
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