VERBIO Vereinigte BioEnergie AG

Earnings Release • Nov 14, 2007

News Details

Corporate | 14 November 2007 09:48

VERBIO Vereinigte BioEnergie AG: Biodiesel business profitable, EBIT margin 5.9% – Ethanol well below expectations – Outlook confirmed

VERBIO Vereinigte BioEnergie AG / Quarter Results

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Zörbig/Leipzig, November 14, 2007 – In the first nine months of 2007 VERBIO
Vereinigte BioEnergie AG (VERBIO) achieved Group revenues of 307.1 million
EUR. The operating result of the Group before special items was 6.8 million
EUR corresponding to an EBIT margin of 2.2 %. The operating result after
special items amounts to 1.5 million EUR (EBIT margin: 0.5%). As earnings
before tax 0.4 million EUR were reported, and net profit -0.6 million EUR.
Earnings per share are -0.01 EUR.
In the first nine months of the current financial year our production
plants were operating at 76.2% based on our proportionate annual production
capacity. 261,403 tonnes of biodiesel und 110,302 tonnes (equivalent to
139,729 m3) of bioethanol were produced.

Utilisation of Biodiesel over 90%
Increased demand and high mineral oil prices have led to revenues in the
biodiesel segment of 209.3 million EUR. Despite continuing high raw
material prices a segment result before special items of 12.3 million EUR
or an EBIT margin of 5.9% could be achieved. Especially the 3rd quarter of
2007 developed satisfactorily. Revenues were well above previous quarters
and the EBIT margin before special items was 8%. The utilisation of our
plants was 91.7% (based on our proportionate annual production capacity).

Bioethanol: Alternatives to grain successfully tested
In the first nine months 2007 the bioethanol segment derived revenues of
79.6 million EUR and a segment result before special items of -8,6 million
EUR. The utilisation of our plants in he first nine months was 54,5% on
average (based on our proportionate annual production capacity).
Despite successful tests in the production plants with alternative raw
materials (multi-feedstock-capability) the current general conditions a not
allowing an economic production.

Outlook
It is still not clear when and in which form the decisive new regulations
for our industry will come into force. As a consequence, we have to state
that the biodiesel business continues to suffer from the government’s
current fiscal policy as well as from overcapacity on the German market –
despite the high mineral oil price. In addition, there are no signs that
rapeseed oil prices are due to fall. The general price level and demand for
bioethanol remain weak; it is also questionable whether the rise to 2,0% in
the blending quota planned for 2008 will generate stronger domestic demand.
Cheap imports from Brazil and high feedstock prices don’t allow a
profitable domestic production.
The Management Board will furthermore take measures to strengthen the
competitive position to benefit from an improvement of the economic
situation of the biofuel industry in 2008.

The interim report as of September 30, 2008 is available under
www.verbio.de

For more information:
VERBIO Vereinigte BioEnergie AG
Alexandra Muehr
Humboldtstraße 18
04105 Leipzig - Germany
Phone: +49 (0) 341 30 85 30 85
Fax: +49 (0) 341 30 85 30 99
E-Mail: ir@verbio.de
www.verbio.de

Information on VERBIO Vereinigte BioEnergie AG
The VERBIO Group is one of the leading producers and suppliers of biofuels
and also the only industrial-scale producer of biodiesel and bioethanol in
Europe. Nominal capacity currently amounts to around 400,000 tons of
biodiesel and 300,000 tons of bioethanol per year. The company has
developed its own processes and innovative technologies for the production
of biodiesel and bioethanol. It supplies its products directly to European
mineral oil corporations, mineral oil traders, independent fuel stations
and haulage companies. VERBIO AG also markets high-quality pharmaglycerin
for the consumer goods and cosmetic industries (glycerin is a by-product of
biodiesel production). Within the Group, VERBIO AG acts as the management
holding company. The Group’s operating business is run by its subsidiaries:
MUW Mitteldeutsche Umesterungswerke, NUW Nordbrandenburger
Umesterungswerke, MBE Mitteldeutsche BioEnergie, NBE Nordbrandenburger
BioEnergie and SBE Swiss BioEnergy.

Important Note
This Press Release contains forward-looking statements, which are based on
assumptions and estimates of the company management of VERBIO Vereinigte
BioEnergie AG. Even though the company management believes that these
assumptions and estimates are correct, the actual future development and
actual future results can deviate substantially from these assumptions and
estimates due to many factors. For example, these factors can include
alteration of the economic situation, legal and regulatory constraints in
Germany and the EU, and changes in the industry. VERBIO assumes no
liability and provides no warranty that future developments and actual
future results will agree with the assumptions and estimates expressed in
this Press Release.
14.11.2007 Financial News transmitted by DGAP

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Language: English
Issuer: VERBIO Vereinigte BioEnergie AG
Humboldtstraße 18
04105 Leipzig
Deutschland
Phone: +49 (0)341 30 85 30 90
Fax: +49 (0)341 30 85 30 99
E-mail: pr@verbio.de
Internet: www.verbio.de
ISIN: DE000A0JL9W6
WKN: A0JL9W
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr
in Berlin, Stuttgart, Düsseldorf, München

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