bumper 1st half.

Coates profit up 42.3% as foundations are laid for continued strength

Coates has registered a $30.5 million after tax profit for the first half of the 2005 fiscal year after combining strong growth in hire sales with a further improvement in margins.

The 42.3% profit increase continues the Company’s sequence of record performances
and has been helped considerably by additional efficiency gains, a growing range of quality
revenue streams and an increasing ability to manage influences from its operating environment.