Rheinmetall overcomes automotive crisis and increases earnings in Defence – return to former strength in earnings power in 2010 

• Defence 2009: EBIT improved by 11% to €215 million
• Crisis mastered: Automotive operating results exceed expectations 
• Operating free cash flow: raised to €186 million
• Liquidity: net liquidity improves from €-205 million to €+44 million
• Growth prospects: Group aims for a sales increase of over 8% in 2010
• EBIT forecast for 2010: EBIT between €220 million and €250 million
  

Rheinmetall AG increased the performance of the Defence division further and reported positive EBIT of €15 million for fiscal 2009, despite high expenses in the Automotive business as a result of the crisis. Both company divisions achieved better operating results than originally forecast. The company intends to pay its shareholders a dividend of €0.30 per share. 

Rheinmetall Group indicators
 

(€ million)	2008	2009
Net sales	3,869	3,420
Order intake	3,780	4,649
Order backlog (Dec. 31)	3,683	4,940
Employees (Dec. 31)	21,020	19,766
EBIT	245	15
Operating EBIT	257	153
EBT	193	-46
Average capital employed	1,967	1,905
EBIT margin in %	6.3	0.4
ROCE in %	12.5	0.8

Automotive indicators
 

(€ million)	2008	2009
Sales	2,055	1,522
Order intake	2,057	1,496
Order backlog (Dec. 31)	376	350
EBIT	61	-187
EBT	35	-210
Employees (Dec. 31)	11,682	10,339
Average capital employed	1,037	962
EBIT margin in %	3.0	-12.3
ROCE in %	5.9	-19.4

Defence indicators
 

(€ million)	2008	2009
Sales	1,814	1,898
Order intake	1,723	3,153
Order backlog (Dec. 31)	3,307	4,590
EBIT	194	215
EBT	177	191
Employees (Dec. 31)	9,217	9,304
Average capital employed	949	955
EBIT margin in %	10.7	11.3
ROCE in %	20.4	22.5