TAKKT AG / Half Year Results/Quarter Results

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Stuttgart, 31 July 2008. Against a background of uneven international
economic conditions, TAKKT AG performed well in the first half of 2008. Due
to the weak US dollar and the sale of Conney Safety Products LLC (Conney)
on 30 September 2007, turnover declined by 3.5 percent in comparison to the
previous year from EUR 490.2 to 473.2 million. However, adjusting for
Conney and currency effects, Group turnover grew by 6.4 percent. The Group
again improved its key earnings figures. Cash flow, at EUR 51.9 (previous
year: 46.0) million, reached a new half year record.

'The development in the first six months underlines once more the strength
of the TAKKT business model,' said Georg Gayer, CEO of TAKKT AG. 'On this
basis we confirm our target of increasing our turnover organically by at
least four percent in 2008.'

EBITDA continues upward trend
Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose
disproportionately in the first six months of the year by 6.9 percent to
EUR 71.6 (67.0) million. The EBITDA margin thus reached a figure of 15.1
(13.7) percent. Even excluding the positive structural effect of the sale
of the lower-margin subsidiary Conney, the EBITDA margin would have risen
by 1.1 percentage points.

'Two factors are primarily responsible for the positive development of the
EBITDA margin: improved gross profit margins in all divisions as well as
the higher capacity utilisation of the mail order infrastructure in
Europe,' said Dr Florian Funck, CFO of TAKKT AG. 'For the financial year
2008 we anticipate an EBITDA margin at the upper end of the target
corridor, which has only just been raised to 12 to 15 percent.'

KAISER + KRAFT EUROPA maintains growth 
As in previous quarters, the KAISER + KRAFT EUROPA division remains the
strongest growth and profitability driver in the TAKKT Group. Turnover in
the first half of 2008 rose to EUR 283.2 (255.2) million – representing an
increase of 11.0 percent. Growth was based on both an increase in the
number of orders and a higher average order value. Especially gratifying
was the development of the companies in Asia, Eastern and Central Europe as
well as Portugal, Denmark and Finland.

The division’s EBITDA grew from EUR 51.9 to 60.4 million. This was 16.4
percent more than in the same period of last year. The EBITDA margin
reached a figure of 21.3 (20.3) percent. The substantial increase was made
possible by further improvements in trade margins and higher capacity
utilisation of the mail order platform.

Topdeq raises profitability despite difficult market situation 
In the first six months of the financial year, Topdeq suffered from the
increasingly uncertain development of the economy and recorded a decline in
turnover of 5.6 percent to EUR 42.4 (44.9) million. In currency-adjusted
terms this corresponded to a fall of 3.6 percent. However, the young
companies in Austria and Belgium showed substantial growth against the
trend.

Unaffected by the turnover development, the division increased its
profitability. EBITDA rose by 10.3 percent from EUR 2.9 to 3.2 million.
Accordingly the EBITDA margin improved by 1.0 percentage points to 7.5
(6.5) percent. The main reason for this increase is the further improvement
in the gross profit margin. In addition, since the second quarter of 2008
higher operating costs for the expanded mail order centre in Pfungstadt
have been matched by corresponding income.

K + K America optimises processes and expands into Europe
Turnover at K + K America fell by 10.6 percent to USD 226.2 (253.0)
million, purely as a result of the Conney sale. Adjusted for Conney the
division grew on US dollar basis by a gratifying 2.7 percent despite the
difficult market situation in North America. This is mainly thanks to the
broad diversification of the division. Translated into euros, turnover
amounted to EUR 147.9 (190.4) million.

Due to currency effects and the Conney divestment the EBITDA fell to EUR
13.2 (16.5) million. But the EBITDA margin rose to 8.9 (8.7) percent
despite the start-up losses of the Hubert company in Germany. This was
accounted for by structural improvements from the Conney sale and process
optimisation measures, especially in the Plant Equipment Group. In addition
the expansion of the K + K America subsidiary Hubert into Europe was
launched in May with the despatch of the first catalogue in Germany.
Turnover in the first months has significantly exceeded expectations.

Two awards for investor relations work 
For the fourth time in succession, TAKKT was placed in the top 3 in the
SDAX segment of the renowned investor relations award from the business
magazine Capital. In 2008 for the first time the Group also achieved third
place in the SDAX segment of the German Investor Relations Award as
presented by Thomson Reuters Extel Surveys, the business magazine
WirtschaftsWoche, and the German Investor Relations Association (DIRK).
Both these successes once again confirm the excellent and consistent
investor relations work undertaken at TAKKT AG.

Telephone conference
We invite you to put your questions to our Management Board in person. For
this purpose we are arranging a telephone conference on 31 July 2008 at
15:00 hrs (CEST) in which we will answer your questions. Please dial
telephone number +49 30 20 22 31 91.

Short profile of TAKKT AG
TAKKT is the leading B2B mail order company for office, business and
warehouse equipment in Europe and North America. The Group is represented
with its brands in more than 25 countries. The product range of the TAKKT
subsidiaries comprises over 130,000 items from the areas business and
warehouse equipment, classical and design-oriented office furniture and
accessories, as well as sales promotion items for retailers, the food
service industry and the hotel market.

The TAKKT Group employs some 2,000 staff, has about 3 million customers
worldwide and distributes more than 70 million catalogues and mailings per
year.

TAKKT AG is listed on the SDAX and was admitted to Deutsche Boerse’s Prime
Standard on 1 January 2003.


For a detailed overview of the key figures please go to
http://www.takkt.de/en/press/takkt_press2008_1546.html


Contacts:
Georg Gayer, CEO
Tel. +49 711.3 46 58-201

Dr Florian Funck, CFO
Tel. +49 711.3 46 58-207

E-Mail: investor@takkt.de


31.07.2008  Financial News transmitted by DGAP
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Language:     English
Issuer:       TAKKT AG
              Presselstr. 12
              70191 Stuttgart
              Deutschland
Phone:        +49 (0)711 346 58 -0
Fax:          +49 (0)711 346 58 - 10
E-mail:       investor@takkt.de
Internet:     www.takkt.de
ISIN:         DE0007446007
WKN:          744600
Indices:      SDAX
Listed:       Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard), Stuttgart;
              Freiverkehr in Berlin, Düsseldorf, München
 
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