Business Growth in First Half – Global Economic Crisis Noticeable.

• Net sales: up 4%
• Operating profit (EBITA): up 2%
• Profit for the period: up 5%
• Regional performance remains inconsistent.
  Germany: up 26%
  Europe: down 9%
  Asia/Pacific/Africa: up 20%
  Americas: down 1%
• Both Banking and Retail segment contribute to growth.

Outlook unchanged: net sales and EBITA for fiscal 2008/2009 expected to be comparable to last year’s figure – Magnitude and duration of economic crisis remain difficult to predict.