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