RATIONAL AG — Earnings Release 2007

Aug 9, 2007

News Details

Ad-hoc | 9 August 2007 07:48

Rational AG: Sales growth exceeds expectations

Rational AG / Half Year Results

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RATIONAL AG: Sales growth exceeds expectations
Earnings on target

18 percent sales growth and
15 percent growth in earnings in the first half of 2007

Landsberg, August 9, 2007. RATIONAL AG, the world market leader in cooking
technology for professional kitchens, was again on course for international
success in the first half of 2007.

At 153.9 million euros (previous year 130.2 million euros), sales revenues
were up by 23.7 million euros or 18 percent. An especially gratifying
feature is that all regions worldwide managed to achieve clear double-digit
growth compared to the same period last year.
Sales revenues for the second quarter of 2007 stand at 80.0 million euros,
compared to 67.4 million euros in the same period last year. This is
equivalent to a rise of 12.6 million euros or 19 percent.

Despite the unexpectedly high rise in raw material prices, especially the
alloy surcharge for stainless steel, causing the cost of sales to increase
by 23 percent, it was still possible to hit the earnings forecast for the
first half of the year. Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) were up
by 5.1 million euros or 15 percent to 38.7 million euros in the first half
of 2007. In the second quarter of 2007 EBIT rose by 2.2 million euros or 12
percent to 21.1 million euros. The first signs of an easing in nickel
prices mean that a turnaround in cost of sales is likely for the second
half of 2007.

In 2007 the company is investing in the further expansion of the
international sales and marketing network, in research and development and
in increased production capacities. The SelfCooking Center® and the
VarioCooking Center® give the RATIONAL group a unique, innovative
technology platform with maximum customer acceptance. Against this backdrop
and based on earnings achieved in the first half of 2007 the management
expects sales growth in fiscal 2007 of at least 15 percent to 325 million
euros, together with a rise in EBIT of 15 percent to 93 million euros.

Contact:

RATIONAL Aktiengesellschaft
Dr. Günter Blaschke
Tel. +49 (0)8191 327-364
Fax +49 (0)8191 327-272
e-Mail: g.blaschke@rational-online.de
www.rational-ag.com

Information for editors:

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 900 people, more than 500 of whom are in Germany. Since
the IPO in 2000 RATIONAL was floated in the Prime Standard on the German
stock market and is currently represented in the SDAX. The Price of
RATIONAL shares has duplicated several times since the IPO.

The company’s principal objective is to offer customers maximum benefit at
all times. Internally RATIONAL is committed to the principle of
sustainability, expressed in its policies on environmental protection,
leadership and social responsibility. Numerous international awards bear
witness year on year to the high level of RATIONAL’s work.

                            Q2 2007    Q2 2006    HY 2007    HY 2006

Sales (million of euros) 80.0 67.4 153.9 130.2
EBIT (million of euros) 21.1 18.9 38.7 33.6
EBT (million of euros) 21.3 19.1 39.0 33.8
EPS (undiluted; in euros) 1.20 1.08 2.19 1.91

DGAP 09.08.2007

Language: English
Issuer: Rational AG
Iglinger Straße 62
86899 Landsberg a. Lech
Deutschland
Phone: +49 (0)8191 327-283
Fax: +49 (0)8191 327-533
E-mail: h.sieber@rational-online.de
Internet: www.rational-online.de
ISIN: DE0007010803
WKN: 701080
Indices: SDAX
Listed: Geregelter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr
in Berlin, Düsseldorf, München, Stuttgart

End of News DGAP News-Service

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