Südzucker AG / Key word(s): Final Results/Miscellaneous 18.02.2015 08:17 Dissemination of an Ad hoc announcement according to § 15 WpHG, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mannheim, 18 February 2015 CropEnergies AG, Mannheim, a subsidiary of Südzucker AG, Mannheim, is temporarily pausing production of its English subsidiary Ensus UK, Wilton. This decision has been made due to the current difficult situation in the European bioethanol market which the dramatic drop of oil prices in the last few months has exacerbated. Bioethanol prices reached an all-time low of EUR 417 per cubic meter FOB Rotterdam on 15 January 2015. The devaluation of the euro compared to the British pound was an additional burden. The drawn-out political process in the EU to also increase the percentage of renewable energies in the transport sector compared to today is not conductive either. The production facility was brought off line a few days ago for cleaning and inspection. CropEnergies' other plants in Germany, Belgium and France are running at high capacity utilization despite the difficult market conditions and thus prove their leading technological position and competitiveness. As soon as market conditions allow, the English production plant can be brought on line again and CropEnergies Group's full annual production potential of 1.2 million cubic meters can be exploited. The possibility of recommissioning will be continuously reviewed against the backdrop of upcoming policy decisions. CropEnergies expects the temporary shutdown to lead to one-off restructuring costs of up to EUR 40 million in the consolidated financial statement for financial year 2014/15, impacting also the consolidated financial statement of Südzucker. Südzucker AG Central Investor Relations Department Nikolai Baltruschat Maximilianstraße 10 68165 Mannheim, Germany Phone: +49 621 421-240 Fax: +49 621 421-449 [email protected] About the Südzucker Group Südzucker, with its sugar, special products, CropEnergies and fruit segments, is one of the leading companies in the food industry. In the traditional sugar business, the group is the world market leader, with 29 sugar factories and three refineries, extending from France in the west via Belgium, Germany and Austria, through to Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Hungary, Bosnia and Moldova in the east. The special products segment, consisting of the functional food (BENEO), chilled/frozen products (Freiberger), portion packs (PortionPack Europe) and starch divisions, is an important growth driver. The CropEnergies segment covers the bioethanol activities in Germany, Belgium, France and the UK. In the fruit segment, the group operates internationally, is the world market leader for fruit preparations and is a leading supplier of fruit juice concentrates in Europe. In 2013/14, the group employed 18,186 persons and generated revenues of EUR 7.5 billion. 18.02.2015 The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Company: Südzucker AG Maximilianstr. 10 68165 Mannheim Germany Phone: +49 (0)621 - 421-530 Fax: +49 (0)621 - 421-7530 E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.suedzucker.de ISIN: DE0007297004, XS0606202454 DE000A1AJLE6 XS0222524372 WKN: 729700, A1GNRQ A1AJLE A0E6FU, Indices: MDAX Listed: Regulated Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt (Prime Standard), Hamburg, Munich, Stuttgart; Regulated Unofficial Market in Hanover End of Announcement DGAP News-Service ---------------------------------------------------------------------------