- High earning capacity further improved
- Stabilisation of business development

Landsberg, November 10, 2009. Following a 12 percent drop in sales in the first half of 2009, revenues in the third quarter of 78.7 million euros were virtually back to the previous year’s figure of 81.2 million euros. “In Asia we managed to achieve growth well into double digits. Even Germany started growing again by 6 percent in the third quarter, and a recovery was even noticeable in the Americas. The international nature of our business is more and more an advantage, particularly in the present crisis,“ explains Dr. Günter Blaschke, CEO of RATIONAL AG.After nine months accumulated sales revenues stand at 226.4 million euros, which is only 9 percent less than the previous year (249.7 million euros).

32 percent EBIT margin – well above previous year

Thanks to the well-targeted fall in operating costs plus lower raw material prices it was possible to further improve the company’s high earning capacity. In the third quarter of 2009 an EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes) of 25.4 million euros was achieved, representing a rise of 28 percent or 5.6 million euros compared to the previous year. This equates to an EBIT margin of 32.3 percent (previous year 24.5 percent). After nine months the EBIT margin stands at 26.8 percent and thus is likewise better than in the previous year (25.0 percent). EBIT achieved 60.7 million euros (previous year 62.5 million euros). Appreciably stronger from the crisis

Because of strict resource management in all parts of the company it was possible to further significantly improve the equity ratio from 62 percent in the previous year to 68 percent. RATIONAL thus possesses an extremely high free liquidity (112.0 million euros), which guarantees considerable room for manoeuvre, flexibility and independence in all business decisions which are necessary. “On this basis RATIONAL will succeed in emerging appreciably stronger from the crisis,“ says Dr. Blaschke.

Stabilisation of business development

The prognoses for global economic trends have grown increasingly more optimistic in recent months and give grounds for hope. Nevertheless, these positive trends still go hand in hand with very many uncertainties and imponderables.

“The performance of the RATIONAL group in the first nine months however gives us confidence that we will successfully conclude the year as a whole, in terms of both sales and profits,“ explains Dr. Blaschke.

Contact:
RATIONAL Aktiengesellschaft
Dr. Günter Blaschke
Tel. +49 (0)8191 327-364
Fax +49 (0)8191 327-272
e-Mail: g.blaschke@rational-online.com
www.rational-online.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 around 1,000 people, of which more than 600 are in Germany. Since the IPO in 2000 RATIONAL was floated in the Prime Standard on the German stock market and is currently listed on the MDAX. The Price of RATIONAL shares has duplicated several times since the IPO.

The company’s principal objective is to offer customers maximum benefit. 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.