08-07-30
MAN AG / Quarter Results/Half Year Results Release of an Ad hoc announcement according to § 15 WpHG, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The MAN Group is continuing to grow in its anniversary year. At EUR10.3 billion, the MAN Group's orders in the first six months increased by 8% compared with the previous year (EUR9.6 billion). The order backlog, which has risen to a new record level of EUR16.5 billion since the beginning of the year (+12%), will continue to ensure extremely high capacity utilization at the Group's production facilities into 2009. The MAN Group's net sales rose by 20% in the first half of the year to EUR8.1 billion (previous year: EUR6.8 billion). All business areas recorded double-digit net sales growth. At EUR1,017 million (+41%), the Group's operating profit exceeded the one billion mark for the first time after the first six months. Operating profit increased by EUR159 million in the second quarter from EUR403 million to EUR562 million (+39%). As a result, the return on sales improved from 10.7% in the prior-year period to 12.6% in the first half of 2008. Excluding the Scania dividend, the return on sales climbed to 11.9%. The MAN Group's earnings before taxes including nonrecurring income improved to EUR1,080 million in the first half of the year (EUR935 million). Its net income rose to EUR768 million (EUR668 million). Earnings per share from continuing operations reached EUR5.18 (EUR4.47). Even excluding nonrecurring income, this item increased sharply to EUR4.75 compared with EUR3.55 in the prior-year period. For all of this year the MAN Group expects a normalization of order intake, net sales to increase by a good 10% as against 2007 (EUR15.5 billion), and a return on sales of just under 12%. MAN Aktiengesellschaft The Executive Board 30.07.2008 Financial News transmitted by DGAP