After three years of strong growth that saw sales increase by 65%, MANITOU Group continued to develop steadily in 2007.

Sales came to 1,263 million, up 12% year-on-year. This level of activity was achieved despite production and delivery delays arising from difficulties in sourcing certain components.

Business performances in 2007 were marked by:

- A sharp increase in sales of rough-terrain forklift-trucks (+9% to 857 million), with sales to the construction sector holding up while sales to the agricultural sector accelerated;

- The development of the industrial forklift-truck and warehouse equipment activity (+33% to e89 million);

- Sharp increase in sales of access platforms (+40% to e88 million), of spare parts (+14% to e137 million) and in revenues generated by services (+34% to e31 million).

With an order book providing good visibility for the first half of 2008 and with the sourcing of components in the process of being stabilised, the Group is making a confident start to the 2008 financial year.