PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil, May 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Gerdau announces 2008 consolidated results: -- Crude steel production grows 25.1% in 1st quarter when compared to the same period in 2007, totaling 5.1 million tonnes. -- Gross revenue reaches R$ 10.0 billion in the period from January to March this year, 23.8% higher than the same period in 2007. -- Exports from Brazil generate revenues of US$ 362.9 million, totaling 616.9 thousands tonnes. -- Net profit reaches R$ 1.1 billion in the quarter, with net margin of 12.2%. -- 1st quarter dividends will be paid on June 3. Metalurgica Gerdau S.A. shareholders will receive R$ 0.64 per share and Gerdau S.A. shareholders R$ 0.41 per share. -- EBITDA reaches R$ 2.0 billion until March this year, 30.4% higher than the value achieved in the same period in 2007. Margin is 22.2% versus 20.8% in 2007. -- Board of Directors proposes 100% Stock Split aiming to increase liquidity and allow easier access to investors through reduction of the price of the stock. -- Metalurgica Gerdau S.A. and Gerdau S.A. conclude capital increase of approximately R$ 1.5 billion and R$ 2.9 billion, respectively. Metalurgica Gerdau issued 19.2 million stocks at R$ 78.35 per stock and Gerdau S.A. issued 48.1 million stocks at R$ 60.30 per stock. -- Acquisitions announced and closed this year represent investments of US$ 2.3 billion and business expansion abroad. Additional Information Gerdau S.A. informs that it has filed today its 1st quarter 2008 results at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and at the Comissao de Valores Mobiliarios (CVM). To access this document, please click on http://www.gerdau.com.br/ing/ri/download.asp?categoria=1,47&menu=inffinanceira s_relevantes (due to the length of URL, please copy and paste into browser) This document and the complementary data regarding the 1st quarter 2008 are also available at Gerdau's site http://www.gerdau.com.br/ing/ri. Gerdau S.A. also informs that it has filed on April 11, 2008 its 2007 Form 20-F at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). To access this document at our website, please click on http://www.gerdau.com.br/ing/ri/download.asp?categoria=1,44&menu=inffinanceira s_sec (due to the length of URL, please copy and paste into browser) Gerdau provides all shareholders, upon request and at no cost, a hard copy of the 1st quarter 2008 results and the Form 20-F. DATASOURCE: Gerdau CONTACT: Thiago Deiro, IR Advisor, Gerdau S.A., +011-55-51-3323-2703, Web site: http://www.gerdau.com.br/

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