Noble Group FY2007 Results

Noble Group Announces Record 2007 Results

· Revenues up 71% to record US$23 billion

· Gross profits up 69% to record US$824 million

· Net profits rise 92% to US$258 million

· Shareholders’ funds up to US$1.55 billion as of 31 December 2007 versus US$957 million as of 31 December 2006

Noble Group (SGX: NOBL), a global supply chain manager of agricultural, metals, minerals and ores, and energy products, announced record annual revenues of $23.5 billion, a 71% increase over the 2006 full year results. Tonnage volume rose to a record 128.3 million tons, a 37% increase over 2006. Group gross profits rose to a record $824 million - a 69% increase compared to 2006. Each of the Group’s business segments contributed between $175-250 million in gross profits.

Chairman David Eldon commented, “Our 2007 financial results show the robust performance across all Noble businesses. The breadth of our business is clear with strong revenue growth across the Group and the comparatively equal gross contributions from each of our business segments. Noble remains focused on the right markets with the right products.”

The Group’s 4th quarter 2007 results showed revenues reaching $7.8 billion, a 98% increase over the 4th quarter 2006. Gross profits for the 4th quarter were a record US$293 million, a 41% increase over the US$208 million level for the same period in 2006. Noble’s net income for the year was nearly double the 2006 results at $258 million. Net income for the 4th Quarter was $98 million, the highest quarterly profit in the Group’s history, and a 92% increase over the 4th quarter, 2006 level of US$51 million.

David Eldon added, “The Group is demonstrating increasingly strong and consistent growth in earnings reflecting its position as an integrated supply chain manager. The continuing improvement in earnings reflects a strategy which is creating more value for our customers and for Noble shareholders as well.” The return on average shareholders’ equity was 20.6% for the full year 2007. Earnings per share were up 81% in the 4th quarter to US3.82 cents per share. For the full year 2007 earnings per share rose 83% to US10.22 cents per share compared to US5.58 cents per share in 2006.