EANS-Adhoc: BENE AG / Bene places corporate bond for the strengthening of the strategic liquidity and adjusts the personnel capacities.

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ad-hoc disclosure transmitted by euro adhoc with the aim of a Europe-wide
distribution. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this
announcement.
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28.04.2009

Vienna/Waidhofen/Ybbs, April 28, 2009. The Vienna prime market listed
Bene AG has successfully placed a EUR 40 million corporate bond with
institutional investors and therewith has created an additional
liquidity reserve for the coming years. In the sense of the strategic
protection in a difficult economic environment, Bene will furthermore
adjust its personnel capacities and until the end of June 2009 will
reduce the headcount of the Bene AG by 125 employees in the context
of a social plan.

With the today´s pricing, the Bene Group has successfully closed the
issue of a corporate bond in the total volume of EUR 40 million. The
term of the with 6.875 % fixed interest bearing bond, which was
placed with Austrian institutional investors, is five years. The bond
was offered to the investors in the context of a private placement.
The joint lead managers of the transaction - Raiffeisenlandesbank OÖ
and BAWAG - disclosed this after the end of the subscription period.
The bullet bond has a denomination of EUR 50,000. Thus, in a
macro-economically challenging environment Bene has ensured its
liquidity for the next years.

Subsequent to an extensive cost cutting and efficiency increase
program in the past months, as of today, the Bene Group has likewise
started an action plan to adjust the number of employees. Bene
therewith reacts responsibly and timely to the significantly changed
economic environment in the served markets. In this context, in line
with a social plan, the headcount of the Bene Group will be reduced
by 125 persons until the end of June 2009. Additionally, another 60
workers are filed for lay-off, who however will get a reemployment
guarantee after two months at the latest.

"In the next months we expect a considerable acceleration of the
consolidation process in the office furniture market, which will go
along with a tremendous pressure on sales and prices. In the interest
of the entire Company we have to responsibly and far-sightedly face
the challenging economic conditions now, in order to ensure the Bene
Group´s future and to emerge strengthened from the crisis", explains
Frank Wiegmann, Chairman of the Management Board of the Bene AG, this
step.

With the adjustment of its personnel capacities and the successful
emission of its bond, the Bene AG takes an offensive measure to face
the current situation. In the mid and long term the Company expects a
clearly positive economic outlook.

About Bene. Bene is convinced that there is a clear connection
between the design of office and working environments, the corporate
culture and the success of a company. Bene´s concepts, products and
services put this philosophy into reality. Development, design and
production as well as consulting and sales are covered under one
roof. With 80 sites in 32 countries and 1,517 employees worldwide,
Bene offers its customers regional access to all of its services. In
the business year 2007/08, consolidated sales of the Bene Group
amounted to EUR 252.5 million. Bene is market leader in Austria and
number six in Europe.

end of announcement euro adhoc
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ots Originaltext: BENE AG
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Further inquiry note:

Investor Relations

Gerald Strohmaier

Head of Finance & Investor Relations

A-3340 Waidhofen/Ybbs

Schwarzwiesenstraße 3

Tel. +43-7442-500-3372

Public Relations

Ursula Grabher

Head of Public Relations

A-1010 Wien

Renngasse 6

Tel. +43-1-534 26-1265

Branche: Furnishings & Furniture
ISIN: AT00000BENE6
WKN:
Index: ATX Prime
Börsen: Wiener Börse AG / official market