In the environment described above, the Verbund Group once again recorded a record result in fiscal 2006 – the fourth in succession. Sales revenue increased from € 2,134.4 million in 2005 to € 2,878.2 million. This corresponds to a growth of 34.9 %. The earnings ratios, which display a disproportionate improvement compared to sales, are particularly positive. The operating result rose by 53.0 % from € 527.0 million to € 806.5 million. Profit after taxes climbed from € 402.1 million in 2005 to € 608.7 million. This is equivalent to an improvement of 51.4 %. The group result came to € 501.1 million after € 349.3 million in the corresponding period the previous year resulting in a growth rate of 43.5 %. In fiscal 2006, the Economic Value Added (EVA), the control-specific ratio for value creation within the Verbund Group, rose by 71.7 % to € 346.4 million.