RATIONAL AG — Earnings Release 2004

Aug 5, 2004

News Details

Ad-hoc | 5 August 2004 07:50

RATIONAL AG: Outstanding second quarter growth

Ad-hoc-announcement transmitted by DGAP. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ——————————————————————————– RATIONAL AG: Outstanding second quarter growth: Sales up 17% – Earnings (EBT) up 10% – World’s first SelfCooking Center(R) launched The second quarter of 2004 saw the highly successful international launch by RATIONAL AG of an entirely new product technology, in the shape of the world’s first SelfCooking Center(R). This is impressively reflected in the 17% sales growth, from EUR45.0 to EUR52.5 million. As a result, sales in the first half of 2004 are up by 11% to EUR97.8 million (previous year EUR88.2 million). With sales growth of 60% in the second quarter, America, which is one of RATIONAL’s most important markets for the future, continued its particularly strong performance. In the first half year, 37% of group growth was achieved in the American market. Despite one-off expenses for conversion of production facilities and the launch of the new SelfCooking Center(R), the second quarter of 2004 saw earnings before taxes (EBT) reach EUR11.0 million (previous year EUR10.1 million). This was 10% up on the previous year. At 21% the EBT margin is significantly ahead of expectations. In the first half of 2004, EBT was EUR18.9 million (previous year EUR17.6 million). This equates to an EBT margin of 19% (previous year 20%). Outlook Based on business trends to date, the company is optimistic of achieving both the planned 10% increase in sales to EUR205 million (previous year EUR187 million) and a proportional increase in earnings (EBIT) to EUR47 million (previous year EUR42 million) for 2004 as a whole. Contacts: RATIONAL Aktiengesellschaft, Erich Baumgärtner Tel. (08191) 327-420, Fax (08191) 327-272 E-mail: e.baumgaertner@rational-online.de http://www.rational-ag.com end of ad-hoc-announcement (c)DGAP 05.08.2004 Issuer’s information/explanatory remarks concerning this ad-hoc-announcement: RATIONAL is the world market and technology leader for the thermal preparation of food in professional kitchens. The company, founded in 1973, employs more than 700 people, 450 of whom are in Germany. RATIONAL was floated on the German stock market in 2000 and is currently represented in the SDAX. Since their issue, RATIONAL shares have risen in price by more than 100 per cent, making them one of the leading German shares. The company’s principal objective is to increase customer benefit. Internally RATIONAL is committed to the principle of sustainability, expressed in its policies on environmental protection, leadership and social responsibility. Numerous awards such as “Best Factory”, “Product of the Year” and “Global Excellence in Operations” bear witness to the high level of RATIONAL’s work. ——————————————————————————– WKN: 701080; ISIN: DE0007010803; Index: SDAX Listed: Geregelter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in Berlin- Bremen, Düsseldorf und Stuttgart 050750 Aug 04