Press release
Rational AG continues its successful path - preliminary figures for fiscal year 2019
- Sales revenues up by 8 percent - currency-adjusted: 7 percent
- EBIT margin expected to be at previous year's level
- Well-positioned for the future
Landsberg, 6 February 2020 According to provisional calculations, Rational posted sales revenues of 844 million euros in fiscal year 2019. This equates to growth of 8 percent or 66 million euros compared to the previous year (2018: 778 million euros), thus meeting the company's growth forecast for fiscal year 2019. All regions around the world contributed to this positive development. Asia and North America made an above-average contribution to continued expansion. With an increase in sales revenues of around 13 percent, the VarioCookingCenter(R) grew above average, making a significant contribution to earnings. Growth after adjustment for exchange rate movements was 7 percent.
EBIT margin expected to be at previous year's level
In line with the positive sales revenue performance, Rational forecasts earnings before financial result and taxes (EBIT) of around 223 million euros (2018: 205 million euros). This equates to an expected EBIT margin of 26.5 percent (2018: 26.4 percent).
More than 140 new jobs created
Rational's investments in the future-oriented development of business processes and in the Company's workforce continued in the past fiscal year. More than 140 new jobs were created worldwide, around half of them in Germany. At the end of the year, the number of employees at Rational worldwide stood at 2,258.
Well-positioned for the future
"Once again in 2019, the vast majority of customers surveyed confirmed that they are highly satisfied with our products and services. Moreover, the close association with a basic human need makes our business less dependent on economic conditions", as the CEO of Rational AG, Dr Peter Stadelmann, explains. For this reason, the Executive Board believes that, as before, the company is well placed to keep on growing successfully in fiscal year 2020. The Company will publish a detailed outlook on expected business development, final Group earnings for fiscal year 2019 and the proposed dividend on 17 March 2020.
Contact:
Rational Aktiengesellschaft
Stefan Arnold / Head of Investor Relations
Tel. +49 (0)8191 327-2209![img]()
Fax +49 (0)8191 327-72 2209![img]()
E-mail: ir@rational-online.com
www.rational-online.com
Editorial note:
The Rational Group is the global market and technology leader for thermal preparation of food in professional kitchens. Founded in 1973, the company employs around 2,200 people, over 1,200 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 MDAX.
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 the work done by Rational's employees year for year.
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