DGAP-Adhoc: RATIONAL AG: Preliminary results for the third quarter of 2008

RATIONAL AG / Preliminary Results

15.10.2008 

Release of a Adhoc News, 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: Preliminary results for the third quarter of 2008

Landsberg, 15 October 2008

International reluctance to invest

The global financial crisis has now resulted in great uncertainty
throughout the global economy, which bears no comparison to economic
downturns of the past. A very sudden reluctance to invest – not least on
the part of the people who make the decisions to buy from us – has had a
significant negative impact on RATIONAL AG in the last quarter.

Sales in the 3rd quarter at last year’s levels

With sales of 81.2 million euros, the figures for the 3rd quarter of 2008
are on a par with those of the previous year (81.7 million euros).

In the first 9 months sales rose by 6 percent from 235.6 million euros in
2007 to 249.7 million euros in 2008. If the growth rate is adjusted to take
account of the special negative effects of changes in the exchange rate,
organic growth of 9 percent was achieved.

25 percent EBIT margin

After 9 months EBIT is growing by 3 percent to 62.5 million euros, with an
EBIT margin of 25.0 percent (previous year 25.7 percent).

In the 3rd quarter an EBIT of 19.9 million euros (previous year 21.9
million euros) was achieved, equivalent to an EBIT margin of 24.5 percent
(previous year 26.8 percent).

Positive expectations for the 4th quarter

We are assuming that the sudden reluctance to buy will ease off somewhat
for our business in the coming months.

The enormous untapped market potential of around 75 percent of the 2.5
million professional kitchens worldwide, combined with the major effects of
rationalization and cost-savings and the short payback period, mean that
using RATIONAL technology is particularly attractive even in economically
challenging times.

What is more, we expect positive effects as a result of

  - the introduction of a new, much improved, fully limescale-free
    appliance without price increase and

  - the introduction of a 2-year guarantee for all RATIONAL and FRIMA
    appliances.

To promote the development of the business selectively in addition to this,
it has been decided to expand sales capacities further in the world’s most
important markets.

The final business figures for the first 9 months are being published on 12
November. Details of the outlook for 2008 as a whole will also be finalized
at that time.

 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 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>

                                Q3 2008    Q3 2007    9M 2008    9M 2007
Sales  (million of euros)          81.2       81.7      249.7      235.6
EBIT  (million of euros)           19.9       21.9       62.5       60.5
EBT   (million of euros)           19.8       21.9       62.9       60.9
EPS   (in euros)                   1.29       1.27       4.07       3.46</pre>
DGAP 15.10.2008 
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Language:     English
Issuer:       RATIONAL AG
              Iglinger Straße 62
              86899 Landsberg a. Lech
              Deutschland
Phone:        0049 8191 327 364
Fax:          0049 8191 327 272
E-mail:       i.klinckmann@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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