GfK continued its dynamic growth in the third quarter with a rise in total revenues and an over-proportional increase in total income by comparison with the same period in the previous year. This positive development is the result of good growth rates in the Group's core business, as well as the new e-commerce and Internet activities in all business fields. New acquisitions and the global network provided additional impetus. The four business divisions within GfK increased their total performances as well as their operating results. 7.1% of the 27% increase in total performance was attributable to internal growth, 15.9% to new consolidations and exchange rate movements accounted for 4.0%. Growth in the third quarter clearly exceeded growth in the same period in the previous year and the first half of 2000. GfK is now forecasting total earnings of Euro 470 million for 2000. Earnings before interest and taxes, including income from participations (aEBIT) for the first nine months are already Euro 1.1 million higher than the total income for financial year 1999 of Euro 26.7 million. The company is therefore expecting to outperform the earlier forecasts of Euro 35.8 million and is looking to achieve an aEBIT margin on total performance of more than 8%.