Preliminary results 2006: RHI group profit at record level

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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

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

end of announcement euro adhoc 21.03.2007 08:00:00
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emitter: RHI AG
Wienerbergstrasse 11
A-1100 Wien
phone: +43 1 50213-6123
FAX: +43 1 50213-6130
mail: rhi@rhi-ag.com
WWW: http://www.rhi-ag.com
ISIN: AT0000676903
indexes: ATX Prime
stockmarkets: official dealing: Wiener Börse AG
sector: Refractories
language: English

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