Kleemann Hellas group closed the first quarter of the current fiscal year with a significant increase of 37,9% in consolidated profits before taxes and minority rights compared to the respective period of last year.

Specifically, according to the financial statements of the first quarter of 2006, consolidated profits before taxes and minority rights of the group amounted to 3,036 mil. Euros, against 2,202 mil. Euros in the first quarter of 2005. At parent company level, profits before taxes increased in the examined period by 25,0% amounting to 2,564 mil. Euros from 2,051 mil. Euros in the equivalent quarter of the previous year.

Consolidated profits after taxes and minority rights amounted in the first quarter of 2006 to 1,918 mil. Euros against 1,708 mil. Euros last year, showing an increase of 12,3%. The equivalent profits of the parent company amounted to 1,806 mil. Euros in 2006 from 1,618 mil. Euros in the same period of 2005, showing an increase of 11,6%.

Profits before taxes, finance, investment results and depreciation (EBITDA) of the group amounted in the first quarter of 2006 to 3,625 mil. Euros against 2,581 mil. Euros last year, showing an increase of 40,5%. The equivalent profit (EBITDA) of the parent company amounted to 3.035 mil. Euros in 2006 from 2.293 mil. Euros in the same period of 2005, presenting an increase of 32,4%.

Furthermore, turnover of the group amounted in the first quarter to 19,193 mil. Euros against 17,964 mil. Euros of the equivalent quarter of the previous year, showing an increase of 6,85%. It is noted that turnover of 2005 included also sales of the subsidiary LEISTRITZ GmbH, a participation sold by the company at the beginning of 2006 and therefore not consolidated in the present period.

At parent company level, turnover of the group amounted to 17,546 mil. Euros against 14,934 mil. Euros in the equivalent quarter of the previous year, presenting an increase of 17,5%.

Kleemann management expects for 2006 as a whole consolidated sales of the group of 81,10 mil. Euros (79,24 mil. Euros in 2005), consolidated profits before taxes, finance, investment results and depreciation (EBITDA) of 15,20 mil. Euros (12,15 mil. Euros in 2005), consolidated profits before taxes and minority rights of 10,392 million Euros (9,623 mil. Euros in 2005) and consolidated profits after taxes and minority rights of the group of 7,10 mil. Euros (6,34 mil. Euros in 2005).