BERU AG Short Financial Year 2005: Sales Revenue +8.5%; EBIT Margin of 10.4% Despite Special Effects

MUNICH, Germany--Feb. 28, 2006--According to preliminary figures, BERU Aktiengesellschaft, Ludwigsburg, increased its sales revenues in the 2005 short financial year (April 1 to December 31, 2005) by 8.5% to EUR 305.8 million (Apr.-Dec. 20, 200504: EUR 281.7 million). This result significantly surpassed the targeted 5% revenue growth for the nine-month period. The growth drivers were the Diesel Cold-Start Technology division and the Electronics and Sensor Technology division.

On the basis of preliminary figures, BERU posted earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of EUR 31.9 million for the short financial year, compared with EUR 36.5 million for the unaudited period of April through December 2004.

EBIT was reduced by one-time special effects totaling EUR 9.3 million. In line with the growth strategy initiated three years ago, the Group continued to focus its international production network on core competencies and took measures to achieve sustained improvements in cost structures, particularly in the Ignition Technology division. The realignment of our production activities in Mexico and the restructuring actions at our French plant in Chazelles sur Lyon resulted in total charges of EUR 5.5 million. In addition, annual impairment tests led to non-scheduled writedowns of tangible and intangible assets totaling EUR 3.8 million.

Excluding these special effects and on the basis of preliminary figures, the Group posted an adjusted operating profit (adjusted EBIT) of EUR 41.2 million, thus achieving an EBIT margin of 13.5%.

BERU plans to publish its final figures for the short financial year 2005 (April 1 to December 31, 2005), as audited and approved by the Supervisory Board, on March 30, 2006.

The Executive Board

Further information on BERU AG is available from:
BERU AG
Corporate Communications & Investor Relations                      
Gala Conrad, Phone.: +49 (0)7141 13 22 46,                          
E-Mail: corporate-communications@beru.de


language:     English
emitter:      BERU AG
              Morikestr. 155
              71636 Ludwigsburg Deutschland
phone:        +49 (0)7141 132-2 46
fax:          +49 (0)7141 132-5 86
email:        investor-relations@beru.de
WWW:          www.beru.de
ISIN:         DE0005072102
WKN:          507210
indexes:      
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