For press enquiries:
Rücker AG
Irina Winkelmann
Head of Marketing & Communications
Kreuzberger Ring 40, 65205 Wiesbaden
Phone: +49 611 73 75-0
Fax: +49 611 73 75-259
irina.winkelmann@ruecker.de
Rücker AG: New record figures for 2008
Major increase in turnover and profits - dividend payment for 2008 – 50 engineers urgently needed - First development order for the new Airbus A 350 – Business expected to drop in 2009
Wiesbaden, 25 March 2009
Rücker AG of Wiesbaden remained successful in 2008 and improved its turnover and profits. Despite the increasingly difficult market environment, especially in the fourth quarter, the publicly quoted engineering group, a leading supplier of technical development goods and services to the world's automobile and aviation industries, improved both its turnover and its profits. Turnover climbed 4.4 percent to 176.3 million Euros (2007 168.9 million Euros). 82 percent was contributed by European business. Group earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) at 11.0 million Euros were an 18 percent year-on-year increase (2007 9.3 million Euros) and increased more than did turnover. Group profits improved from 4.5 million Euros in 2007 to 6.5 million Euros (= + 44 percent) and thus increased disproportionately.
Wolfgang Rücker, chairman of Rücker AG, commented "We managed to maintain our successful course in 2008 and thus seamlessly continue the previous year's success. Our technological expertise, specialisation in virtual product development and professionalism once again proved an excellent basis for success. The board and supervisory board have therefore decided to propose to the shareholders annual general meeting on 09 June 2009 that a tax-free dividend of 0.30 Euros per share be paid".
The group considers prospects for the automobile division to be good as products in this industry continue to be heavily individualised by each maker and a lot of them are expanding their ranges of models and variants. Developing environment-friendly vehicles will continue to be a main emphasis together with increased comfort, safety, communication and performance demands in the group's view. "We're excellently equipped to meet these challenges in view of our engineers' experience and skill and our international positioning. Rücker AG is able to meet the increasing demand for development of new electronic components in vehicles and aircraft. All this will contribute to our continuing success", Mr. Rücker stated.
Rücker AG has 35 locations in 18 countries and employs over 2,500 people - nearly all of them engineers. The group is currently recruiting 50 professional engineers for immediate appointment.
Rücker financial director Juergen Vogt referred in his look back at 2008 to the group's equity ratio of 38.6 percent being a very solid foundation by comparison with the rest of the industry and other medium-sized enterprises. Vogt stated that during the year improved profits had a beneficial effect on cash flow.
He also claimed that Rücker AG had landed the first big Airbus order for the new Airbus A 350. This project involves many demanding engineering tasks. The Rücker board anticipates more orders will be forthcoming from Toulouse for the A 350.
Wolfgang Rücker doesn't think any reliable predictions can be made on what will happen in 2009 in view of the current economic and financial crisis. In his view group revenue 2009 will probably be below that of 2008 for this reason in view of the effects of the crisis on the automobile industry and its suppliers, for both of which his group renders goods and services. Project delays will also affect turnover and revenue. Less business at the beginning of 2009 means that achieving 2008's excellent results will probably be impossible. Rücker AG has responded to current developments by further optimising its fixed costs and short-time working at some locations.
Wolfgang Rücker, chairman of Rücker AG, commented "We managed to maintain our successful course in 2008 and thus seamlessly continue the previous year's success. Our technological expertise, specialisation in virtual product development and professionalism once again proved an excellent basis for success. The board and supervisory board have therefore decided to propose to the shareholders annual general meeting on 09 June 2009 that a tax-free dividend of 0.30 Euros per share be paid".
The group considers prospects for the automobile division to be good as products in this industry continue to be heavily individualised by each maker and a lot of them are expanding their ranges of models and variants. Developing environment-friendly vehicles will continue to be a main emphasis together with increased comfort, safety, communication and performance demands in the group's view. "We're excellently equipped to meet these challenges in view of our engineers' experience and skill and our international positioning. Rücker AG is able to meet the increasing demand for development of new electronic components in vehicles and aircraft. All this will contribute to our continuing success", Mr. Rücker stated.
Rücker AG has 35 locations in 18 countries and employs over 2,500 people - nearly all of them engineers. The group is currently recruiting 50 professional engineers for immediate appointment.
Rücker financial director Juergen Vogt referred in his look back at 2008 to the group's equity ratio of 38.6 percent being a very solid foundation by comparison with the rest of the industry and other medium-sized enterprises. Vogt stated that during the year improved profits had a beneficial effect on cash flow.
He also claimed that Rücker AG had landed the first big Airbus order for the new Airbus A 350. This project involves many demanding engineering tasks. The Rücker board anticipates more orders will be forthcoming from Toulouse for the A 350.
Wolfgang Rücker doesn't think any reliable predictions can be made on what will happen in 2009 in view of the current economic and financial crisis. In his view group revenue 2009 will probably be below that of 2008 for this reason in view of the effects of the crisis on the automobile industry and its suppliers, for both of which his group renders goods and services. Project delays will also affect turnover and revenue. Less business at the beginning of 2009 means that achieving 2008's excellent results will probably be impossible. Rücker AG has responded to current developments by further optimising its fixed costs and short-time working at some locations.
Rücker AG – the publicly quoted engineering group
Its current chairman Wolfgang Rücker founded the Rücker group of Wiesbaden, Germany, in 1970. It went public in 2000 and is now a leading globally active supplier of technical development goods and services to the world's aviation and automotive industries. Virtual goods and services in the bodywork, interior and electrical systems development fields are supplied to all the well-known names in the global automotive industry. In aviation the company offers goods and services ranging from styling aircraft interiors via concept development and the creation of models and prototypes to the calculation of fuselages and wings as well as entire cabin furnishing schemes.