First half-year 2007/08: Schuler on growth course

Göppingen, May 26, 2008 ¨C Schuler AG (WKN 721063/ISIN DE0007210635) has drawn a positive conclusion from the first half of its fiscal year 2007/08 (October 1, 2007, to March 31, 2008): earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) improved from € 7.7 million to € 16.6 million. At the same time, there was a strong increase in new orders to € 555.5 million (1st half of 2006/07: € 270.0 million). The seamless and scheduled integration of M¨¹ller Weingarten is showing signs of success.

The current half-year figures include M¨¹ller Weingarten; the prior-year figures refer to Schuler before its acquisition of M¨¹ller Weingarten. A comparison with the prior-year figures has thus only limited relevance.

Improved earnings

Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) improved from € 7.7 million to € 16.6 million. After consideration of increased interest expenses, earnings before taxes (EBT) rose from € 1.8 million to € 5.1 million. The Group¡¯s consolidated result amounted to € 4.1 million (prior year: € 4.2 million). The prior-year result included non-recurring tax income of € 4.4 million from the capitalization of the present value of Schuler AG¡¯s positive corporate tax balance. Net cash flow from operating activities improved by € 11.7 million, compared with the previous year.

New orders doubled

During the period under review, the Schuler Group received the biggest order in its history. The BMW Group has decided to change the press shop structures of its facilities in Leipzig, Regensburg and Munich by 2011, involving the installation of three new servo press lines. The total order volume is in the three-figure million euro range. In total, consolidated new orders were more than doubled from € 270.0 million to € 555.5 million. Of this total, the ¡°Forming Systems¡± division accounted for € 497.9 million (prior year: € 209.0 million) and ¡°Automation and Production Systems¡± for € 101.1 million (prior year: € 78.9 million). As of March 31, 2008, order backlog was well above the prior-year figure (€ 360.5 million) at € 836.8 million.

Sales growth particularly strong in Asia and Germany

Sales revenue amounted to € 418.3 million and was thus above the comparable prior-year figure of € 239.5 million. The ¡°Forming Systems¡± segment generated sales of € 355.1 million, compared with € 192.9 million last year. Sales of the ¡°Automation and Production Systems¡± segment reached € 89.6 million, compared with € 62.9 million in the first half of fiscal year 2006/07. The respective contributions to total sales were as follows: North and South America 18.8 percent, Germany 42.6 percent, Europe without Germany 20.5 percent, Asia and other regions 18.1 percent. In contrast to the strong sales increases in Germany and the strategic growth region Asia, there was a decline in sales in North and South America due to the unfavorable exchange rate and a weak US economy.

Following the integration of M¨¹ller Weingarten, the Schuler Group currently employs 5,520 people (March 31, 2008).

The CEO of Schuler AG, J¨¹rgen Tonn, states: ¡°Schuler is maintaining its growth course. The dynamic increase in new orders underlines the growing success of our company. We continue to expect an improvement in our operating result for the fiscal year as a whole.¡±