• Praktiker’s group sales at € 717.7 million (2005: € 718.9 million)
• Germany: Sales down due to weather-related slump in demand for gardening supplies from € 583.6 to € 560.1 million (- 4.0 percent)
• Abroad: Double-digit growth in Eastern Europe from € 135.3 to € 157.6 million (+16.5 percent)
• Outlook: Expected rise in sales and earnings for full fiscal 2006

Kirkel, 26 April 2006 – Despite negative seasonal special effects Praktiker Bau- und Heimwerkermärkte Holding AG was able to close the 1st Quarter 2006 with sales remaining at the previous year’s level. As at 31 March, total sales stood at € 717.7 million (2005: € 718.9 million). While international sales climbed by 16.5 percent to € 157.6 million, the sales volume in Germany declined 4.0 percent to € 560.1 million. The reason for this drop in domestic sales was a weather-related slump in demand for gardening supplies, which had a massive negative effect on business in March and prevented a more positive quarterly statement. In addition, this year’s Easter business fell into the 2nd Quarter. Accordingly, Praktiker’s earnings before interest, taxes and amortization (EBITA) dropped from € -8.4 million to € -15.9 million.

“In view of the special circumstances that have shaped the 1st Quarter 2006 we can be satisfied with our start into the new year“, declared Wolfgang Werner, CEO of Praktiker Bau- und Heimwerkermärkte Holding AG. “For the full fiscal year 2006 we continue to expect a growth in sales in the lower single-digit percentage range and EBITA above last year’s level. This forecast, which we presented at our Annual Press Conference held on 4 April 2006, was made in view of the weather-related sales trend in the gardening business, which was already becoming apparent. In this respect, the Q1 figures support our expectations for the full fiscal year 2006“.

Throughout March Germany had been affected by severe winter weather, which in individual cases led to temporary, snow-related store closures and strongly affected the seasonal spring business with plants and gardening supplies. The full decline in domestic sales in the amount of € 23.5 million thus corresponds to the loss in sales recorded in the gardening business. The non-seasonal business with DIY and building supplies, by contrast, posted a rise in sales.

On account of these special circumstances sales revenues in the 1st Quarter 2006 dropped 4.0 percent to € 560.1 million (2005: € 583.6 million). Like-for-like, sales receded 3.8 percent. When considering only the two months of January and February, domestic business during this period showed a like-for-like growth in sales of 1.9 percent amid an environment characterized by heightened competition.

Abroad, our intensified expansion of business in Eastern Europe resulted in a rise in sales from € 135.3 to € 157.6 million. This corresponds to an increase of 16.5 percent (like-for-like 6.9 percent). All countries of the Praktiker group contributed to this development. The strongest growth rates were recorded in Romania and Turkey but Greece, too, achieved an appreciable growth. As a consequence, the international share in consolidated sales stood at 22.0 percent (2005: 18.8 percent) at the close of the 1st Quarter 2006.

EBITA affect sales trend in Germany
The overall earnings situation of the Praktiker group in the 1st Quarter 2006 was affected by the development of sales in Germany. EBITA as at 31 March 2006 stood at € -15.9 million following € -8.4 million one year earlier. This drop is attributable to the weather-related slump in demand in our German gardening business. Domestic EBITA came in at € -11.5 million (2005: € -3.4 million). Abroad, by contrast, EBITA climbed from € -5.0 to -4.4 million during the same period.

Development of the store network and headcount
The store network of Praktiker Bau- und Heimwerkermärkte Holding AG remained unchanged during the 1st Quarter 2006 and comprised 340 locations of which 275 in Germany and 65 abroad. Compared with the situation one year earlier, the number of locations dropped by three in Germany while it increased by eight abroad. Due to this international expansion the number of employees at Praktiker group rose by 614 from 20,493 to 21,107 during the same period.

QUARTERLY REPORT Q1/2006

*Combined Financials
All figures presented for the first Quarter 2005 up until the consolidated interim report relate to the so-called “combined financial results“. For a better comparability of the financials they show the structure of Praktiker Bau- und Heimwerkermärkte Holding AG after the IPO in November 2005 for the full year and the previous years – excluding the divested Austrian activities and including the tasks of METRO’s cross-divisional service companies MGB and MIAG. The latter tasks were taken over by the two newly founded Praktiker companies, Praktiker Group Buying HK Ld. and Praktiker International AG, on 23 November 2005.