RATIONAL AG — Earnings Release 2001

May 18, 2001

News Details

Ad-hoc | 18 May 2001 08:51

Ad hoc-Service: Rational AG english

Ad hoc announcement processed and transmitted by DGAP. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ——————————————————————————– RATIONAL – Profits and Sales in the first Quarter exceed Expectations Benefits of Scale – New Plant will improve Productivity still further RATIONAL AG’s operating result (EBIT) in the first quarter of 2001 rose by 21% to EUR 5.0 (4.1) million, above the level of the strong growth in sales. The ratio of operating result (EBIT) to total sales of EUR 37.3 (32.2) million rose to 13.4 (12.8)%. Net income in line with IAS was up 69.3% to EUR 3.1 (1.8) million. Due to the reform of corporation tax in Germany in 2001, the average tax rate in the group fell to around 38 (47)%. Against a background of a downturn in the world economy, RATIONAL AG’s group sales in the first quarter rose overall by 18.6% to EUR 36.5 (30.8) million and exceed expectations significantly. On the cost side, further important economies of scale were achieved. The cost of materials was up less than sales, by 17.1% to EUR 13.1 (11.2) million, even though since the beginning of April 2000 the CleanJet and CalcDiagnosis System have been supplied at no extra charge with the most important product, the ClimaPlus Combi. The positive cost effects of RATIONAL’s high growth were reflected in personnel costs in particular, which rose below average by 11.0% to EUR, 9.8 (8.8) million. Total operating performance per employee rose by 4.9% to 56.5 (53.8) T. EUR. On average RATIONAL employed 660 (599) people. Other operating expenses increased by 16.8% to EUR 9.4 (8.0) million due to additional costs in the newly formed subsidiaries and the outlay for investor relations. When the expanded manufacturing facilities go on stream in Landsberg in June production processes will be further optimized and productivity is expected to increase still further. Thanks to the new plant, production capacities in Landsberg will grow from 22,000 to 30,000 units in order to satisfy Continuing high demand. Business within Germany in the first quarter of 2001 saw a particularly welcome increase of over 20%. Overall the strong market growth of the world market leader in high-tech appliances for thermal cooking show that there is heavy demand for RATIONAL’s products and services because they are highly cost- effective (paying for themselves in just 4 to 12 months) and can achieve excellent rates of growth even in markets which are already well established. Contacts RATIONAL AG Erich Baumgärtner Beatrix Melis Finance Director Investor Relations Phone: ++49/8191 / 327-0 Phone: ++49/8191/327-0 end of ad hoc announcement (c) DGAP 18.05.2001 ——————————————————————————– WKN: 701 080; Index: SDax Listed: Geregelter Markt in Frankfurt (SMAX); Freiverkehr in Berlin, Bremen, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, München, Stuttgart 180851 Mai 01