euro adhoc: Financial Figures/Balance Sheet / PALFINGER Group - Preliminary results 2008

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Company Information

22.01.2009

Preliminary results 2008 of the PALFINGER Group underline strong
market position

o Growth in revenue continued despite market decline
o EBIT decrease reflects market changes and necessary adjustments
o Proposed dividend of EUR 0.39

|in million EUR |2008e |% |2007 |2006 |
| | | | | |
|Revenue |795 |14% |695.6 |585.2 |
|EBIT |69 |- 31% |99.6 |77.0 |
|EBIT margin |8.7% |- |14.3% |13.2% |

The PALFINGER Group was not spared the effects of the
adverse economic environment in 2008, but managed to record a
satisfactory business development against this background. In
particular the strong crane business in Europe of the first half of
2008 and three acquisitions, which took effect in 2008, allowed the
Group once again to report a double-digit growth in revenue from
EUR 695.6 million in the 2007 financial year to EUR 795 million.
The way earnings developed reflected the increasingly weaker
market environment more clearly. EBIT went down from EUR 99.6
million to EUR 69 million, which was a sign of the greater
weight given to hydraulic systems due to the declining crane
business and the acquisitions carried out; revenue was also brought
down by the accounting rules applying to acquisitions, the necessary
depreciation and impairment, as well as the costs for the Group's
social plan. Subject to the approval of the Supervisory Board, the
Management Board will propose to the Annual General Meeting to
distribute a dividend in the amount of EUR 0.39 per share for the
2008 financial year (previous year: EUR 0.70). The development of the
overall economy will continue to have a significant influence
on the Group's business performance in 2009. At present PALFINGER
is feeling the consumers' reluctance to make investments, but
government aid and economic support programmes are expected to
reinvigorate infrastructure investments. Management deliberately
has chosen not to counteract utilisation beyond capacity in the
first months of 2009 in order to have sufficient flexibility
in case of a recovery of the market. Moreover, PALFINGER launched a
project to strengthen the Group's earnings and financial
structure. This project is based on further savings in fixed
costs, process improvements, revenue increases, and measures to
reduce the capital employed. The growth generated in 2008 shows
that in an uncertain environment PALFINGER is able to profit from
its strong market position and make use of its opportunities. The
above-mentioned figures are indications from a projected calculation
based on IFRS. The final results will be published on 25 February
2009.

end of announcement euro adhoc
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ots Originaltext: Palfinger Holding AG
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Further inquiry note:

Hannes Roither, PALFINGER AG

Company Spokesperson

Phone: +43 662 46 84-2260

mailto: h.roither@palfinger.com

www.palfinger.com

Branche: Machine Manufacturing
ISIN: AT0000758305
WKN: 919964
Index: ATX Prime, ATX
Börsen: Wiener Börse AG / official market