RUETGERS continues on successful course / A star in the RAG Group / Best result in the company's history / Focus on Chemicals and Plastics Divisions

Essen/Germany (PROTEXT) - For the RUETGERS Group, the 1999financial year was the most successful in the company's 150-yearhistory. Compared with 1998, the pre-tax result rose by DM 9million to DM 232 million. The result from ordinary activitiesamounting to DM 266 million represented an increase of DM 33million or 14 per cent over 1998. Performance in 1999 thereforecontinued the upward trend of the last five years and representsa solid foundation for further successful internationalisation. The decline in sales during 1999 generated by the disposal ofTEERBAU GmbH was almost fully offset by acquisitions. Sales in1999 totalled DM 4.8 billion. The Plastics Division accounted forthe largest proportion of sales. As a result of acquisitions inthis division, sales rose by 43 per cent compared with 1998 to DM2,905 million. The pre-tax result amounted to DM 112.6 million,representing an increase of DM 14.9 million on the figure for theprevious year. The Chemicals Division posted sales of DM 1,853million (an increase of 5 per cent). Here, the pre-tax resultrose by DM 9.5 million to DM 114.9 million. Having terminated all construction activities, RUETGERScontinued to pursue its strategy of focused, profitable growth."We are now concentrating our full attention on the Chemicals andPlastics Divisions, where we intend to expand further", commentedEberhard von Perfall, Chairman of the Board of Management ofRUETGERS AG. "Our goal is to rank among the world's top three inall our major markets." In line with this strategy, the Group strengthened itsposition in key plastics markets last year through two majoracquisitions. By purchasing the electrolaminates business of theUS conglomerate AlliedSignal, the RUETGERS subsidiary Isola ofDueren/Germany has become the world market leader for high-gradeelectrolaminates with a market share of 25 per cent. Followingits purchase of the window profile manufacturer KBEKunststoffproduktion GmbH of Berlin/Germany, the RUETGERSsubsidiary HT Troplast of Troisdorf/Germany with its TROCAL,Knipping and KBE brands now ranks as one of Europe's foremostprofile extruders. RUETGERS looks towards the future with optimism. The companyexpects to see a general economic upturn in Europe, an end to thecrisis in Asia and a slight increase in raw material pricesduring the current financial year. Continued stability in theautomotive sector, an improvement in the German chemicalsindustry and a recovery in plastics prices will have a positiveeffect on the future development of the Group. In the year 2000, RUETGERS expects a further rise in sales andresult. To continue the company's growth strategy, half a billionDeutschmark will be invested during the current financial yearand a total of DM 4.5 billion by the end of 2005. ots OriginalText Service: RUETGERS AG Internet:http://recherche.newsaktuell.de For further information, pleasecontact: Wolfgang Orians RUETGERS AG Rellinghauser Strasse 345128 Essen Germany Tel.: +49 201-177-2090 Fax: +49 201-177-2108E-Mail: wolfgang.orians@ruetgers.de

Subscribers please note that material bearing the slug"PROTEXT" is not part of CTK's news service and is not to bepublished under the "CTK" slug. Protext is a commercial serviceproviding distribution of press releases from clients, who areidentified in the text of Protext reports and who bear fullresponsibility for their contents.

PROTEXT