During the first half of 2007/08, the voestalpine Group attained new dimensions in sales revenue, operating profit and workforce as a result of the integration of the Special Steel Division (Böhler-Uddeholm Group).

voestalpine AG successfully launched the hybrid bond it had already announced on the capital markets. The quality of the final order book was excellent exceeding more than EUR 3 billion.

The holding of voestalpine AG in Böhler-Uddeholm AG has increased to 40,401,130 shares corresponding to a share of 79.2 % in its nominal capital as per 6 September 2007, the last day of the three months sell-out period under voestalpine AG’s voluntary public take over offer.

The first three months of the 2007/08 financial year were characterized by continuing high demand and a good and stable price level in all four divisions of the voestalpine Group.
Within the scope of the overall economic trend, which remained very satisfactory with practically no interruptions both in Europe and in the voestalpine Group’s overseas export markets, the most important customer industries followed this positive trend.

voestalpine AG confirms its previously published statement that it will not increase the bid price for shares of Böhler-Uddeholm AG.

The 2006/07 business year was by far the most successful for the voestalpine Group in its history until now. In addition to a renewed increase in revenue and in all other key figures, the operating result could be significantly improved for the fifth year in a row—thus achieving a new record result for the third consecutive time. Moreover, all four divisions reported new historic highs in revenues, operating result and margins.

On 26 April 2007, voestalpine AG published a voluntary public takeover bid to the shareholders of Boehler-Uddeholm AG which was improved and the acceptance period extended by corresponding publication on 19 May 2007 preceded by a press release on May 18, 2007. The (extended) term of acceptance for the takeover bid expired on 4 June, 2007 at 5:30 p.m. Vienna time.

On April 26, 2007, voestalpine AG published a voluntary public takeover bid to all shareholders of BÖHLER-UDDEHOLM AG. voestalpine AG has notified the Austrian Takeover Commission of the following revision of the terms of the takeover bid:

As has already been announced at the press conference of March 29, 2007, voestalpine AG today notified the Takeover Commission of a voluntary public takeover bid submitted to the shareholders of BÖHLER-UDDEHOLM AG. The publication of the takeover bid, after completion of the analysis of the Takeover Commission, is expected on May 3, 2007. Only upon publication of the takeover bid, the acceptance period of approximately four weeks begins to run.

The management board of voestalpine AG has decided to finance the planned take-over of Böhler-Uddeholm AG without rights issue.

Yesterday, April 10, 2007, Share Purchase Agreements were signed with the shareholders of BU Industrieholding GmbH, based on the time schedule and the conditions of the Agreement – in-principle between voestalpine AG and BU Industrieholding GmbH of March 29, 2007. The Share Purchase Agreements cover the purchase by voestalpine AG of 10,686,340 shares in Böhler-Uddeholm AG, corresponding to 20.95 % of Böhler-Uddeholm’s voting stock, at a price of EUR 69 per share.

voestalpine AG has come to an agreement in principle with the shareholders of BU Industrieholding GmbH to acquire the company and thereby indirectly almost 21% of the shares of BÖHLER-UDDEHOLM AG.

Following the first half of the 2006/07 financial year, which represented the most successful period in the Group's history so far, the most gratifying development also continued throughout the third quarter.