The electronic excitation spectrum of manganese phthalocyanine films has been studied using a combination of optical absorption and electron energy-loss spectroscopy. These studies reveal the existence of a low lying excitation at 0.5 eV, which has not been identified previously. These excitations are localized and have a predominant dipole allowed character. Most likely, they arise from transitions between states which have a ligand as well as manganese metal character. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.