Sales revenues increase to EUR 680 million – further increase in headcount.

During the past financial year 2007/2008, Doppelmayr Holding AG was able to consolidate its position as world leader in the ropeway market and increase sales volume yet again. With 144 ropeway projects realized around the globe, sales revenues grew by 3.2 percent to EUR 680 million. The number of employees worldwide increased by five percent to 2,605. In addition to Austria as the strongest single market, the European Alpine countries, North America and the emerging markets of Eastern, Central and Southeastern Europe were key to this very good result.

Market leadership further consolidated
Further growth in sales volume to EUR 680 million provided impressive confirmation of the Doppelmayr Group's leadership of the world market. 144 ropeway projects from Portland in the west of the USA to Kamtschatka in the far east of Russia clearly demonstrate the Group's performance.

Innovation leadership expanded

The clear pole position in terms of quality, technology and innovation leadership in the industry was further expanded through numerous world firsts. Impressive examples include an "unmanned" gondola lift in Val Thorens, France, the first gondola lifts with seat heating in Ischgl and Zell am See, and the first gondola lift with sauna cabin in Finland.

Pioneering work was also performed in technical fields which are not directly associated with ropeway engineering, but reflect Doppelmayr's uncompromising approach to quality. Essential elements of Austria's new process directive for hot-dip galvanizing are based on research work carried out by Doppelmayr. This Doppelmayr know-how is now being applied by large galvanizing operations in Germany and other European countries.

Growing number of urban ropeways
The Group's visionary strategy of positioning the ropeway as a means of passenger transport in cities has also been crowned with success. Over the past few years, numerous installations have been built worldwide for this type of application, providing striking proof of their functionality and efficiency in urban environments.

In addition, the subsidiary DCC Doppelmayr Cable Car GmbH has firmly established itself in the people mover market with the Cable Liner Shuttle and is currently involved in three projects in Las Vegas, Venice and Doha Airport in Qatar.

Rise in demand for material transport systems
Investments in the youngest subsidiary – Doppelmayr Transport Technology GmbH – have also borne fruit. Demand for the material transport system RopeCon is growing. In 2007 and 2008, two RopeCon installations for transporting mineral ore were erected in Jamaica and on the Pacific island of Simberi (Papua New Guinea). The outstanding market opportunities for this internationally unique product are borne out by the large number of inquiries and concrete orders from around the globe.

Good prospects for the current financial year
Despite the persistently high costs of raw materials, the continuing difficulties with the availability of bought-out parts and the fact that price and competitive pressure remains intense, Doppelmayr again expects to see satisfactory business development in the current financial year, even though the impact of the worldwide financial crisis on the real economy and the willingness to invest is difficult to predict.

Factbox

Questions
Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group
Mag. Ekkehard Assmann
Marketing Director
Rickenbacherstrasse 8-10, Postfach 20
A-6961 Wolfurt, Österreich
Tel. +43 5574 604-223, Fax +43 5574 75590
email: ekkehard.assmann@doppelmayr.com
Internet: doppelmayr.com