(PlastEurope) -- In its last earnings report as a standalone company, French chemicals and plastics producer Rhodia looks back on the third quarter and the first nine months of 2011, when it increased both sales and earnings by double-digit margins. The French company, which will be consolidated by new owner Solvay from Q4 2011 already has adopted its new owner's style of reporting earnings as REBIT (recurring earnings before interest and taxes) or REBITDA (including depreciation). Rhodia focuses on REBITDA as its key earnings indicator.
In the third quarter, REBITDA rose by 16% year-on-year to EUR 273m on sales up 22.8% to EUR 1.67bn. This represents a slackening over the first half, as figures show REBITDA increasing by 25% to EUR 853m and sales advancing by 24% to EUR 4.8 bn. The company said sales volumes in the third quarter picked up by 4%, reflecting ⌠good business dynamics, and results also show a ⌠EUR 47m net positive price impact at EBITDA.