A successful year 2007 and positive outlook on 2008

• Sales move up by over 13%

• Second best operating result

• Expansion strategy continued successfully in 2007

• Ulrich Becker in the Management Board as of April 1, 2008

• Positive outlook on financial year 2008

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Duisburg (euro adhoc) - Duisburg, April 1, 2008 - The international
multi metal distribution company, Klöckner & Co, increased sales by
over 13% in the last financial year, thus generating the second best
operating result in the 100 years of the company´s history. At the
same time, with the acquisition of twelve companies and the
realization of the demanding objectives of the STAR improvement
program, all the strategic and operating targets set for 2007 were
achieved.

2008 also began in a very promising manner. Supported by the
favorable demand situation and the price increases already
implemented, an operating result above the level of the previous year
is indicated for the first quarter. As of April 1, 2008 the Klöckner
& Co Management Board is extended by Ulrich Becker. "For the current
financial year, we are well positioned. Due to the current
development on the market of steel and metal distribution, we expect
a favorable result for the financial year," commented Dr. Thomas
Ludwig, Chairman of the Klöckner & Co AG Management Board.

Increased volume and sales Due primarily to the acquisitions made,
the Klöckner & Co Group increased its year-on-year sales volume by
5.7% from 6.1 million tonnes to approximately 6.5 million tonnes,
despite streamlining locations. Driven primarily by acquisitions and
price increases, Group sales increased from EUR5.5 billion in 2006 by
13.4% to over EUR6.3 billion in 2007.

Second-best result in the history of the company The generally good
business trend of the customer industries for steel products in
Europe and high demand from the emerging markets kept demand high in
the first six months of the year. In the second six months, multi
metal distribution came under increasing pressure in Europe as a
result of weakening demand, high inventories and price erosion for
stainless steel. With declining growth momentum in North America, the
overall trend there was weaker than in the previous year. Despite the
resulting 6.1% earnings decline to EUR371 million after EUR395
million in 2006, Klöckner & Co generated the second-best EBITDA
result in the history of the company.

In line with EBITDA, in 2007 Group EBIT moved down from EUR337
million to EUR307 million. The decline in earnings before tax from
EUR273 million to EUR210 million and consolidated net profit from
EUR235 million to EUR156 million was also due to non-recurring
charges of EUR38.5 million for the repayment of the high-yield bond
in the second quarter of 2007.

Dividend EUR0.80 per share As in the previous year, the Management
Board and Supervisory Board of Klöckner & Co are to propose at the
Annual General Meeting the distribution of a dividend of EUR0.80 per
share for financial year 2007. This represents, as promised at the
IPO, a payout ratio of 30% of consolidated income after adjustment
for non-recurring effects. "Klöckner & Co is thus offering its
shareholders an attractive dividend yield," stated Dr. Thomas Ludwig.

Further improvement in Group financing basis In 2007, key steps were
taken towards further optimizing Group financing. A syndicated
holding loan of EUR600 million was successfully placed and a
convertible bond of EUR325 million with a 1.5% coupon issued. Thus,
Klöckner & Co AG's Group financing is on a sound footing and offers
further potential for the company's growth strategy.

New Management Board member at Klöckner & Co AG Since April 1, 2008
Ulrich Becker, previously member of the Management Board at Benteler
Automobiltechnik GmbH, has joined the Klöckner & Co AG Management
Board. He assumes responsibility for the Europe segment and
purchasing. "With his many years of experience and extensive
expertise, Ulrich Becker will strengthen the Klöckner & Co Management
Board. As a result, the management has an optimum positioning for the
varied tasks and challenges in the future," declared Dr. Thomas
Ludwig

Klöckner & Co AG with successful expansion strategy By September, the
Klöckner & Co Group had already achieved its goal of carrying out ten
to twelve acquisitions in 2007. In total, twelve companies with total
sales of around EUR570 million were acquired in Europe and North
America in 2007. In addition, the stake in Debrunner Koenig Holding,
the very successful Swiss subsidiary, was increased to approximately
98% until the mid of January 2008. In order to reinforce further its
position as the largest producer-independent steel and metal
distributor in the combined European and North American market, the
company is targeting expansion. "In 2008, we will be striving for at
least a similar level of external growth as that achieved in 2007. As
well as the further expansion of our activities in North America and
Western Europe, Eastern Europe in particular will be integrated more
intensively into our expansion strategy," elucidated Dr. Thomas
Ludwig. In January 2008, the British distribution company Multitube
was already aquired.

Strategic objectives for 2008 In 2008, the STAR improvement program
that was initiated in 2005 will be entering phase II. In addition to
ongoing optimization of the distribution network and inventories, its
core feature is the gradual establishment of a European purchasing
organization. As part of this intensified, pan-European integration,
the proposal will be made to the 2008 Annual General Meeting of
Klöckner & Co AG to transform the company from a German stock
corporation to a European company (Societas Europaea, SE).

Outlook for 2008 Despite forecasts of a weaker general economic trend
in 2008, the outlook for steel distribution is still considered very
positive. This is due to a favorable development of supply and demand
as well as the price rises which have already been implemented or
which are expected. Although the development in the second half of
the year cannot yet be foreseen due to global economic risks, current
trends indicate another favorable result for 2008 as a whole.

About Klöckner & Co AG:

Klöckner & Co is the largest producer-independent distributor of
steel and metal products in the European and North American markets
combined. The core business of the Klöckner & Co Group is the storage
and distribution of steel and non-ferrous metals. About 210,000
active customers are supplied through more than 260 distribution
locations in 15 countries in Europe and North America. During the
financial year 2007, the Company achieved sales of approximately
EUR6.3 billion with more than 10,000 employees.

The shares of Klöckner & Co Aktiengesellschaft are admitted to
trading on the official market segment (Amtlicher Markt) of the
Frankfurt Stock Exchange (Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse) with
simultaneous admission to the sub-segment (Prime Standard) to the
official market with further post-admission obligations. ISIN:
DE000KC01000; WKN: KC0100; Common Code: 025808576. Klöckner & Co
shares are listed in the MDax® Index of Deutsche Börse.

Contact persons:
Klöckner & Co AG
Am Silberpalais 1
47057 Duisburg, Germany

Peter Ringsleben, Claudia Uhlendorf - Corporate Communications
Peter Ringsleben
Phone: +49-203-307-2800
Fax: +49-203-307-5060
E-mail: peter.ringsleben@kloeckner.de

Claudia Uhlendorf
Phone: +49-203-307-2289
Fax: +49-203-307-5103
E-mail: claudia.uhlendorf@kloeckner.de

Claudia Nickolaus - Investor Relations

Claudia Nickolaus
Phone: +49-203-307-2050
Fax: +49-203-307-5025
E-Mail: claudia.nickolaus@kloeckner.de

end of announcement euro adhoc
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ots Originaltext: Klöckner & Co AG
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Further inquiry note:

Claudia Uhlendorf

Phone: +49-203-307-2289

Fax: +49-203-307-5103

E-mail: claudia.uhlendorf@kloeckner.de

Branche: Metal Goods & Engineering
ISIN: DE000KC01000
WKN: KC0100
Index: MDAX, CDAX, Classic All Share, Prime All Share
Börsen: Börse Frankfurt / regulated dealing/prime standard
Börse Berlin / free trade
Börse Hamburg / free trade
Börse Stuttgart / free trade
Börse Düsseldorf / free trade
Börse München / free trade


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