Rosenbauer earnings under fire after cartel checks

Fire-fighting equipment producer Rosenbauer is optimistic 2010 will be “a record year for us” despite earnings plunging last year.Firm officials said today (Fri) they expected all of its production capacities to be occupied this year due to the current positive order situation.Earnings before interest and taxes (Ebit) dropped by 26 per cent year on year in 2009 to 29.4 million Euros. Bosses however stressed the firm’s Ebit would have risen by nine per cent without an accrual of 15 million Euros due to an investigation by German competition officials against all fire engine producers active in the country.Rosenbauer chiefs said they expected turnover and earnings to rise this year due to the company’s “excellent business circumstances” in the United States.The firm, which has its headquarters in Leonding near Linz, Upper Austria, had 1,946 employees at the end of 2009, up by eight per cent year on year. It is active in more than 100 countries.