Preliminary results 2006: RHI group profit at record level

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finances/Preliminary results 2006

Wien (euro adhoc) - RHI reported a group profit amounting to EUR
157.9 million in 2006 (previous year: EUR 97.3 million), which
contributed substantially to further improving equity in the
consolidated balance sheet. Undiluted earnings per share amounted to
EUR 5.81 in 2006 (previous year: EUR 4.07), fully diluted earnings
per share to EUR 4.01 (previous year: EUR 2.55), up 57%. EUR 97.1
million of the RHI Group’s profit (previous year: 82.8 million) were
accounted for by continued operations with RHI’s core business,
Refractories; the discontinued Insulating operations (Heraklith
Group) contributed a book profit of EUR 60.8 million (previous year:
EUR 14.5 million). Since the sale of Heraklith in 2006, RHI has been
focusing on its position as world market leader for high-grade
refractories systems solutions; the restructuring of the Group was
completed successfully with the record results 2006. Net financial
liabilities continued to fall considerably by 34% to EUR 419.7
million in 2006 (previous year: EUR 636.4 million). This corresponds
to the 2.3-fold EBITDA of the year 2006 and reflects the financial
success of the reorganisation and the RHI Group’s newly gained scope
for profitable growth in refractories worldwide.

RHI’s consolidated revenue (continued operations) rose by 11.4% to
EUR 1,335.8 million in 2006 (previous year: EUR 1,199.4 million).
With this increase in revenue, RHI outperformed the growth rates of
its client industries and the refractories market, and expanded is
position as the world market leader further. RHI’s divisions Steel
(+10.9%) and Industrial (+13.3%) continuously expanded their business
in a good market environment and gained market share in important
growth regions worldwide. EBITDA in the RHI Group amounted to EUR
179.5 million (previous year: EUR 156.4 million); EBIT was EUR 133.8
million in 2006 (previous year: EUR 115.5 million), in increase by
15.8%. The EBIT margin increased to 10.0% (previous year: 9.6%)
although energy and raw material costs continued to rise.

All figures for 2006 are preliminary; the final results and RHI’s
consolidated balance sheet 2006 will be published after the balance
sheet has been approved, on 25 April 2007.

The outlook for 2007 is positive. Based on business development and
the level of incoming orders, the refractories business is expected
to develop well. There are good opportunities worldwide to expand
market position and earnings power further in the coming years. RHI’s
objective is to increase revenue to EUR 2.0 billion by 2010 through
organic growth and targeted acquisitions and to raise its world
market share to over 15%. Key figures is available on RHI’s website
under
http://www.rhi-ag.com/internet/en/corpsvc/ir/Corporate_20News.html

end of announcement euro adhoc 21.03.2007 08:00:00
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ots Originaltext: RHI AG
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Further inquiry note:
RHI AG
Investor Relations
Dkfm. Markus Richter
Tel: +43-1-50213-6123
Email: markus.richter@rhi-ag.com

Branche: Refractories
ISIN: AT0000676903
WKN: 874182
Index: ATX Prime
Börsen: Wiener Börse AG / official dealing