Rába: Continouing increase, stable EBITDA

Thanks to the continuous efficiency-improvement and the successful strategic aims achieved Raba Group (headquaters in Győr) -whose shares are listed on the Budapest Stock Exchange-, also in the third quarter of 2007 positive operating profit and net result. This data arises only from the plants’ operation, because there were no sales of realty in this quarter.

ü      On group level, the dynamics of sales revenue of the automotive company in Győr increased by 11,8 percent, compared to the base period of the previous year, the sales revenue amounted to 40,9 billion HUF to Q3 of 2007.

ü      The effects of the significant decline of exchange rates could be compensated partly by efficiency improving measures, so during the first 9 months of 2007 158 million HUF operating profit was achieved, with an EBITDA level of 2,435 billion HUF.

ü      There was a further improvement regarding cash-flow positions of the Rába Group, which was supported by the incoming cash from currency hedging activities. The net result of the first 9 months of 2007 amounts to 622,5 million HUF.

ü      On the American market, the company attained a sales increase of 17,5 %, due to two contradictory effects. This period was characterized by the strong and temporary decline on the heavy vehicle market, which was compensated by the widened cooperation with the strategic partner in case of special axles.

ü      On the EU- market -together with the domestic sales- Raba’s sales figures increased by 12,8 percent, and amounted to 24,4 billion HUF compared to the 21,6 billion of the previous year.

ü      The CIS and East-European markets export sales revenue achieved by Raba during the first 3 quarter of 2007 increased markedly, by 25,6 percent, from 15,5 million EUR to 19,5 million, compared to the base period. In the background of these figures stands the increased demand on the Russian market and the expanding strategic relations.

Consolidated results of the I.-III. quarter of 2007.:

About Rába:

The business portfolio of the Rába Automotive Group is made up of three independent and interrelated automotive businesses: the Axle, the Components and Vehicle.  Rába is a highly export-oriented company, with strategic export markets in the USA, the EU and CIS (Confederation of Independent States).  The company group working with nearly 3000 employees has annual sales of EUR 190 million. The shares of Győr-based Rába Automotive Group are traded at the Budapest Stock Exchange.