EoW November 2007

english corporate news

Orders booming at FIB

l Altana posts robust growth in the first six l months of 2007

Speciality chemicals company Altana AG substantially increased sales and earnings in the first six months of 2007 compared to the previous year. Sales increased by 7%, rising from €659m to €705.7m. Adjusted for negative exchange rate effects of 3%, as well as slightly positive acquisition effects, the operating sales growth rate was 9%. The growth in sales was particularly strong in Europe (+10%) and Asia (+8%). Earnings before interest, taxes, depre- ciation and amortisation (EBITDA) grew by 22% from €103.1m to €125.2m, based on double-digit earnings increases in all divisions. “In the first half-year of our new group structure as a pure specialty chemicals company we have demonstrated a very satisfying development and were able to increase sales and earnings substantially,” said Dr Matthias Wolfgruber, CEO of Altana AG. “We have successfully lived up to the confidence placed in us by the capital

markets and the general public after the new start of Altana and we are well positioned to continue our path of profitable growth into the future.” Altana AG – Germany Fax : +49 281 670 1114 Email : info@altana.com Website : www.altana.com Fasteners getting ready for 2008 The Ricoh Arena, Coventry, UK, will host Fastener Fair Coventry on 11 th and 12 th June 2008. Fastener Fair Coventry is exclusively for the markets of the UK and Ireland, and represents all aspects of the fastener and fixing market. The Ricoh Arena is less than two hours’ drive for almost 75% of the population of Britain.

A zinc sensor from FIB

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Le Four Industriel Belge (FIB), Belgium, has picked up a third order from UZPS in Yekaterinburg, Russia, for two annealing and galvanising lines. Both are provided with specific bath and wiping system for Galfan®. These two lines come in addition to two others in 2003 and 2005. Based in Brussels, FIB has also received five orders for specific lines for zinc/ aluminium coating during the past 12 months – three in western Europe and two in Asia. It has also received an order from HAS CELIK, Turkey, for a patenting and galvanising line. Le Four Industriel Belge SA – Belgium Fax : +32 2 376 37 11 Email : info@fib.be Website : www.fib.be

Fastener Fair Coventry – UK Email : jerry@fastfair.net Website : www.fastenerfair.com

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EuroWire – November 2007