Wuppertal, 8 November 2005 – Prime Standard-listed holding company, GESCO AG, is increasing its forecast for financial year 2005/2006 (01.04.2005 – 31.03.2006) on the basis of the interim report.

The figure published on 28 June 2005 on the occasion of the accounts press conference forecast sales of EUR 205 million (previous year: EUR 192 million). In line with current figures, sales are set to rise to approx. EUR 225 million. The forecast for Group net income for the year totalled EUR 6.6 million (previous year: EUR 6.2 million). According to current figures, Group net income for the year should reach EUR 7.8 million. Based on the total number of shares, which increased following the capital increase at the beginning of September 2005 to stand at 2,749,000, earnings per share amount to EUR 2.84.

The forecast assumed that demand would decrease in the second half of the year. This fall has not been as significant as previously expected. The special economic impetus, from which some of our companies benefited in the second half of financial year 2004/2005, is continuing. In addition, the Dömer Group, acquired at the end of the August 2005, will be included in the current financial year with four months, which was not taken into account in the original forecasts.

The Interim Report (01.04. to 30.09.2005) will be published on 15 November 2005.