Conti operating profits flat, sales rise 11%

HANOVER, Germany (Aug. 10)—Despite 11-percent growth in sales in the first half, Continental A.G.´s operating earnings in the period grew only 1.5 percent from a year earlier, the company reported. Nonetheless, the firm expects sales and earnings for the full 12 months to be at least 10 percent ahead of 1999. For the six-months ended June 30, Conti reported pretax earnings of $256.5 million on sales of $4.73 billion. Net earnings fell 6.3 percent to $100 million. Non-tire products now account for 51 percent of earnings and 49 percent of sales.