Corporate | 19 March 2015 09:30

RATIONAL AG continues to grow successfully

RATIONAL AG / Key word(s): Final Results

2015-03-19 / 09:30

Press release

RATIONAL AG continues to grow successfully

– 8% sales growth – 29% EBIT margin

– Dividend of 6.80 euros proposed

– Growth expected to continue in 2015

Landsberg, 19 March 2015. RATIONAL AG posted consolidated sales of 496.7 million euros in 2014, an increase of 8% over the previous year (461.1 million euros) and so continued its growth of the past years.

Europe as the mainstay of growth
Europe was the main growth driver in 2014. Germany grew by 8%, whereas the commercial kitchen supplier from Landsberg increased sales by 13% in the rest of Europe. “Apart from the overall positive trend, we benefited for example from a change in legislation in the UK, which pledges that every schoolchild in the first and second form will be given a cooked luncheon. That resulted in a positive special effect, since many school kitchens were fitted out with RATIONAL equipment”, states Dr Peter Stadelmann, Chief Executive Officer of RATIONAL AG.

The Americas and Asia were 3% down on last year. However, these two regions’ figures reached the previous year’s level when adjusted to reflect negative currency effects. Field business through the company’s own sales function which is important to its sustained success developed well in both regions. Sales in chain business, which fluctuates sharply, were down on the previous year in each case.

EBIT margin of 29%
Gross profit rose to 304.0 million euros (previous year: 280.7 million euros) and the gross margin was 61% (previous year: 61%). At 145.2 million euros (previous year: 128.3 million euros), EBIT was 13% up on the previous year. The EBIT margin of 29% was at a very high level. When adjusted to reflect positive currency effects, it came to 28%, as in the previous year. Group earnings were 110.1 million euros, outperforming the previous year’s figure by 13% (previous year: 97.2 million euros). This equates to a profit per share of 9.68 euros (previous year: 8.55 euros).

Dividend of 6.80 euros proposed
In order for shareholders to share in the company’s success adequately once more, the Supervisory Board and Executive Board have decided to propose to the General Meeting of Shareholders on 29 April 2015 to distribute a dividend of 6.80 per share (previous year: 6.00 euros). This represents a dividend payout ratio of 70% and a dividend yield of 2.6% relative to the stock price at the end of 2014.

83 new jobs worldwide
The total number of employees in the Group rose in 2014 by 6% from 1,341 to 1,424. “Selective expansion of capacities in our global sales and marketing organisations and in research and development means that we’ve further improved our company’s future prospects”, said Dr Stadelmann.

Growth to date expected to continue
Given the forecasts for the global economy and based on the foundations that have been created for the company’s successful development, the Executive Board of RATIONAL expects to continue its course of growth regarding sales volume, revenue and EBIT in 2015.

Contact person:
RATIONAL Aktiengesellschaft
Dr Peter Stadelmann
Tel. +49 (0)8191 327-3309
Fax +49 (0)8191 327-272
E-mail: p.stadelmann@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 more than 1,400 people, around 800 of whom are in Germany. RATIONAL was floated in the Prime Standard of the German stock market in 2000 and is currently represented in the SDAX.

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

	2014	2013	Percentage change
Sales (in million EUR)	496.7	461.1	+8
EBIT (in million euros)	145.2	128.3	+13
EBT (in million euros)	144.6	127.7	+13
EPS (in euros)	9.68	8.55	+13

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Language:	English
Company:	RATIONAL AG
	Iglinger Straße 62
	86899 Landsberg a. Lech
	Germany
Phone:	0049 8191 327 2209
Fax:	0049 8191 327 722209
E-mail:	s.arnold@rational-online.com
Internet:	www.rational-online.com
ISIN:	DE0007010803
WKN:	701080
Indices:	SDAX
Listed:	Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Munich, Stuttgart

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