DGAP-Adhoc: Rational AG: 2007 fiscal year sets new records

| Source: EQS Group AG EQS Group AG 

Rational AG / Final Results

26.03.2008 

Release of an Ad hoc announcement according to § 15 WpHG, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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RATIONAL AG: 2007 fiscal year sets new records

Sales up 19% to 336.6 million euros

Profits up 18% to 61.2 million euros

Dividend of 4.50 euros proposed

Landsberg, March 26, 2008. For RATIONAL AG, the worldwide market leader in
the field of cooking technology for professional kitchens, 2007 was another
record-breaking year. Sales grew by 19 percent or 52.9 million euros to
336.6 million euros (previous year: 283.7 million euros), and group profits
were up by 18 percent or 9.4 million euros to 61.2 million euros (previous
year: 51.8 million euros). Earnings per share thus reached a new record of
5.38 euros, compared to 4.55 euros in the previous year.

Worldwide growth

It is particularly pleasing that practically all sales companies around the
world contributed to sales growth. This is a further testament to the
solidity and performance of our global structures. Partner business in the
markets of the future, such as Eastern Europe, Asia and Latin America, also
made an above-average contribution, recording a growth rate of 34 percent.

Double-digit growth in Germany

Even in the well-developed German combi-steamer market, where our sales
figures are the highest, we managed once again in 2007 to achieve
double-digit growth – of 13 percent. Just as thirty years ago the
combi-steamer started to replace hot air appliances in particular, today
the SelfCooking Center® is replacing the technically, economically and
qualitatively obsolete combi-steamer. This apparently never-ending German
success story also suggests that there is huge sales potential in every
other country in the world.

Cash flow from operations up by 24 percent 

Cash flow from operations of 61.1 million euros was generated in 2007, 12.0
million euros or 24 percent up on the previous year’s figure of 49.1
million euros. The increased cash flow is mainly due to the considerable
increase in earnings as well as to the improvement in receivables
management.

Dividend of 4.50 euros proposed

Thanks to the attractive dividend policy, RATIONAL AG shareholders have
always benefited from the company’s very good earnings position. For the
fiscal year 2007, the Executive and Supervisory Board will propose at the
Shareholders’ Meeting that a dividend of 4.50 euros (previous year 3.75
euros) per share should be paid, this represents an increase of 20 percent.

107 new jobs in 2007

In 2007, 107 new, highly skilled and secure jobs were created in the
RATIONAL group. With 1,008 employees worldwide, the 1,000 employee mark was
passed for the first time. By continually improving productivity and
efficiency in all corporate divisions, the company was also able to
significantly enhance corporate quality in 2007. Sales per employee have
been steadily rising for years and reached a new record of 349 thousand
euros in 2007 (previous year 328 thousand euros).

Positive outlook for 2008

The SelfCooking Center® and the VarioCooking Center® represent an
innovative technology platform with an internationally unique selling
proposition and high levels of customer acceptance. Against this
background, and despite the increasing signs of an economic downturn in the
US caused by the financial crisis and the imponderable nature of future
trends in exchange rates, the company’s management expects a sales growth
of 15 percent to 387 million euros with a proportionate rise in EBIT of 15
percent to 106 million euros for 2008.

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:

The RATIONAL-group is the world market and technology leader for the
thermal preparation of food in professional kitchens. The company, founded
in 1973, employs more than 1,000 people, more than 600 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 listed 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.
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.<pre>

                                     2007              2006   Change in %
Sales  (million of                  336,6             283,7          18,6
euros)
EBIT  (million of euros)             92,6              80,5          15,0
EBT   (million of euros)             93,5              81,1          15,3
EPS   (in euros)                     5,38              4,55          18,2</pre>
DGAP 26.03.2008 
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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-ag.com
ISIN:         DE0007010803
WKN:          701080
Indices:      SDAX
Listed:       Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr
              in Berlin, Düsseldorf, München, Stuttgart
End of News                                     DGAP News-Service
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