EANS-News: RHI AG: Positive development in the first nine months of 2010 - growth in Brazil, Russia and China

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quarterly report

Wien (euro adhoc) - RHI AG, the world market leader in refractory
products, recorded a significant increase in revenues and earnings in
the first three quarters of 2010 compared with the prior-year
reference period, which was marked by the crisis. Within the
corporate strategy, steps were taken in the third quarter to
strengthen RHI´s positioning in the emerging markets Brazil, Russia
and China. At the same time, structural measures were taken through
the decision to close down plants in Chile and Canada, which enable
cost savings in the future.

Revenues of the RHI Group rose by 24.6% to EUR 1,122.0 million in the
first nine months of the financial year 2010 in comparison with the
reference period of 2009 (2009: EUR 900.2 million). The Group´s
operating result was increased by 135.6% to EUR 107.2 million. (2009:
EUR 45.5 million).

In a quarterly comparison 2009/2010, a 29.0% growth in revenues to
EUR 381.3 million was realised. It was above all the Steel Division,
where revenues were up 42.0% on the third quarter of 2009. Revenues
of the Industrial Division rose by 7.1%. The Group´s operating result
soared by 124.7% to EUR 32.8 million compared to the reference period
of 2009. The operating result margin improved from 4.9% to 8.6%.
Despite expenses for impairment losses and restructuring of EUR -6.4
million, which were largely attributable to plant closures in Chile
and Canada, EBIT rose to EUR 26.4 million, versus EUR 11.4 million in
the third quarter of 2009.

In comparison with the second quarter of 2010, the third quarter of
2010 showed a slightly weaker development in the Industrial Division
as the framework conditions continued to be difficult. Revenues were
4.3% below the previous quarter. The increase in prices of important
raw materials also had an adverse effect as price increases were only
partially enforced in the reporting period.

As of 1 October 2010, RHI increased the equity ratio further to 23.2%
(versus 22.3% as of 2 July 2010). Due to anticipated raw material
purchases in China, investments and a cash payment in the squeeze-out
proceedings of the German Didier Werke AG, net debt rose from EUR
234.4 million in the previous quarter to EUR 278.1 million.

Land purchased for future production site in Brazil In late October,
RHI purchased 980,000 square meters of land in the federal state of
Rio de Janeiro, thus laying the foundation for the construction of a
production site for refractory products. Depending on the final
layout and the production range of the planned plant, the investment
is expected to amount to a minimum of EUR 30 million. In the first
phase, up to 100,000 tonnes of refractory bricks and mixes will be
produced. Construction is scheduled to start in the first four months
of 2011; the start of production is planned for late 2012. In Russia,
the share held in the refractories producer ZAO Podolsk Refractories
was increased to 23.5%. Moreover, the third tunnel kiln in Dalian was
commissioned in late September, increasing production capacity in
China by 20% to 270,000 tonnes.

Q1 - Q3
in EUR million 2010 2009 1) Change
Revenues 1,122.0 900.2 24.6%
Operating result 107.2 45.5 135.6%
Operating result margin 9.6% 5.1% 88.2%
EBIT 96.7 32.8 194.8%
EBIT margin 8.6% 3.6% 138.9%
Profit before income taxes 83.3 6.7 1,143.3%
Profit after income taxes 88.8 4.4 1,918.2%
Net cash flow from operating activities -4.9 145.3 -103.4%
Capital expenditure 30.4 21.8 39.4%
Employees at 1 October 7,370 7,078 4.1%

1) after reclassification

Steel Division
Following five consecutive quarters of growth since the crisis, the global steel
output declined for the first time in the third quarter of 2010. Yet, the Steel
Division realised a significant increase in revenues and earnings in the first
three quarters compared to the prior-year reference period. Revenues, at EUR
720.4 million, exceeded the prior-year value by 44.8%. The operating result of
the Steel Division was raised from EUR - 5.8 million to EUR 46.3 million.

In the third quarter, divisional revenues were up 42.0% on the prior-year
quarter and amounted to EUR 254.2 million. Despite the downturn in the steel
industry, a 2.8% increase in revenues was recorded also in comparison with the
second quarter, thus significantly outperforming the market. The operating
result of the third quarter amounted to EUR 15.4 million in the Steel Division,
clearly above the figure of the previous year (EUR 4.0 million).

Industrial Division
In the Industrial Division, the third quarter of 2010 was characterised by the
seasonal weakness during the summer months and unchanged difficult conditions
the construction and glass industries. In general, following the crisis the
investment cycle has not yet resumed in the third quarter either.

Therefore, the division´s revenues of the first three quarters, at EUR 382.4
million, were below the prior-year figure of EUR 387.7 million. In the third
quarter of 2010, revenues, at EUR 120.3 million, exceeded the level of the third
quarter of 2009 of EUR 112.3 million; however, a decline was recorded compared
to the second quarter of 2010 (EUR 144.8 million). The operating result amounted
to EUR 13.0 million in the third quarter. The restructuring expenses of EUR 9.3
million were incurred in the context of plant closures in Chile and Canada.

Raw Materials Division
The Raw Materials Division realised revenues totalling EUR 120.9 million in the
first nine months of 2010, versus EUR 95.9 million in the prior-year period. In
the third quarter of 2010, revenues were up 33.3% on the reference period of
2009, from EUR 32.4 million to EUR 43.2 million. This was caused by a
significantly higher demand by the Steel Division and a 47.7% increase in
external revenues. The operating result amounted to EUR 4.4 million in the
reporting period, which corresponds to an increase by 100% and is attributable
to the higher market prices of magnesitic raw materials.

Outlook
In the Steel Division, RHI expects the business development in the fourth
quarter of 2010 to be slightly below that of the previous quarter. The growth of
steel production will continue to decline slightly in comparison with the first
half of 2010.

In the Industrial Division, the level of incoming orders and the beginning
winter repair business give reason to expect a good fourth quarter. The
development of the Raw Materials Division will continue to be characterised by
price increases and high capacity utilisation in the fourth quarter of 2010.

Overall, RHI expects a slight increase in revenues in the fourth quarter of 2010
compared to the third quarter of 2010. The result of the fourth quarter will be
at the level of the third quarter due to positive mixed effects from the growth
in the Industrial business and price effects from raw material price increases,
which have not yet been fully passed on. In the whole year 2010, RHI will
generate revenues of roughly EUR 1.5 billion, thus exceeding the prior-year
figure by a clear margin.

The quarterly financial report III/2010 and the online version are
available on RHI´s website www.rhi-ag.com.

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

Further inquiry note:

RHI AG

Investor Relations

Barbara Potisk-Eibensteiner

Tel: +43-1-50213-6123

Email: barbara.potisk@rhi-ag.com

Branche: Refractories
ISIN: AT0000676903
WKN: 874182
Index: ATX Prime, ATX
Börsen: Wien / official market