IN FOCUS

“SKF confirms its target of 10% operating margin level as well as its target of 24% sales growth, in local currencies, within the four-year period ending 2006, also after the divestment of Ovako. The target remains unchanged”, said Tom Johnstone, President and CEO of SKF at the Group’s Capital Market Day in Sao Paulo.

The Board of Directors of Thomas Industries Inc. has declared a quarterly cash dividend of 9-1/2 cents per share, payable July 1, 2005, to shareholders of record June 3, 2005. This will be the 200th consecutive quarterly cash dividend paid by the Company.

Pfeiffer Vacuum, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of high-quality vacuum pumps, vacuum gauges, mass spectrometers and complex vacuum systems, announces its results for the 1st quarter of 2005.

National Oilwell Varco, Inc. reported that for its first quarter ended March 31, 2005 it earned $35.6 million, or $0.33 per fully diluted share, which includes $10.9 million of pre-tax charges related to its merger with Varco International, Inc. Net income for the period excluding these charges…

ITT Industries, Inc. announced first quarter 2005 net income of $116.5 million, up $27.6 million over the first quarter 2004 including the net benefit of special items. Diluted earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, including the net benefit of special items, was $1.24, up $0.30 per share from reported EPS in the first quarter 2004.

ABB today reported a strong performance in the first quarter of 2005, with higher orders and revenues and a 58-percent increase in group earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) compared to the same period last year.

Pentair announced its first quarter 2005 results, highlighting a 50 percent year-over-year increase in earnings per share (EPS) from continuing operations driven chiefly by share gains in robust Enclosures markets, …

Baker Hughes Incorporated announced that net income for the first quarter of 2005 was $179.8 million or $0.53 per diluted share, compared to $94.6 million or $0.28 per diluted share for the first quarter of 2004 and …

Gardner Denver, Inc. announced that revenues and net income for the three months ended March 31, 2005 were $238.8 million and $10.3 million, respectively. These results represent an 83% improvement in total segment operating earnings and 57% increase in net income on a 55% increase in revenues, as compared to the first quarter of the previous year.

Thomas Industries Inc. reported financial results for the first quarter ending March 31, 2005. Net sales were $109,969,000, as compared to $109,518,000 a year ago. This represents a record for any quarter for the pump and compressor business.