Highlights third quarter 2007
Revenue increased by 11% to € 2,407.8 million (organic growth1 10%)
Gross profit is up 16% to € 528.9 million
EBITA2 increased by 15% to € 155.0 million, while the EBITA margin improved to 6.4% from 6.2% in Q3 2006
Diluted EPS3 before tax one-off4 up by 5% to € 0.97 compared to € 0.92 in Q3 2006
Continued YoY growth in Europe, i.e.: 17% growth in Germany, 9% in the Netherlands and 16% in Belgium
Revenue decline in North America stabilized; September relatively stronger than July and August

Outlook fourth quarter 2007 We expect continued growth in operating results. We expect diluted EPS to amount to at least € 0.97 versus a comparable figure of € 0.99 in Q4 2006. Our forecast includes an underlying effective tax rate of 26% in Q4 2007, compared to 18.5% in Q4 2006.

Outlook Q4 2007
We expect continued growth in operating results. Revenue growth eased somewhat during the third quarter, but at a far more gradual pace than in Q2 2007. On the basis of current trends we expect diluted EPS before amortization of acquisition related intangibles and impairment goodwill to amount to at least € 0.97 versus a comparable figure of € 0.99 in Q4 2006. Our forecast includes an increase in the underlying effective tax rate to 26% in Q4 2007, compared to 18.5% in Q4 2006, while Q4 2006 gross profit also included a one-off benefit of approximately € 2 million.