EANS-Adhoc: BENE AG / Bene announces results for first quarter of 2009/10.

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quarterly report

24.06.2009

- Decline in sales by 20 % to EUR 47.6 million
- EBIT of EUR -0.8 million slightly negative
- Still high equity ratio and low net gearing
- Bond of EUR 40 million provides sufficient liquidity reserve
- Package of measures as reaction to changed environment introduced

Vienna/Waidhofen an der Ybbs, June 24, 2009. The Bene AG, listed in
the prime market of the of the Vienna Stock Exchange, could not
escape the continuing difficult economic environment and had to
record decreases in sales and earnings in the first quarter of the
current business year (February 1 until April 30, 2009).

In total, in the first three months of the current business year,
sales of the Bene Group dropped by 20.2 % to EUR 47.6 million (Q1
2008/09: EUR 59.7 million). In the home market Austria, the Bene
Group´s sales decreased by 26.2 % to EUR 14.5 million (Q1 2008/09:
EUR 19.7 million). In Germany, the largest European office furniture
market, the decline in sales by 10.0 % to EUR 14.3 was moderate (Q1
2008/09: EUR 15.9 million). Despite the acquisition of several
projects, due to the still weakened investment climate, UK sales fell
by 22.2 % to EUR 5.3 million (Q1 2008/09: EUR 6.8 million). In
Russia, Bene improved sales by 51.0% to EUR 5.1 million in the first
quarter of 2009/10 (Q1 2008/09: EUR 3.4 million). Overall, the "other
markets" segment recorded a 39.7 % loss in sales to EUR 8.4 million
(Q1 2008/09: EUR 14.0 million).

In line with the sales development, earnings and profitability showed clear
reductions. Compared to the previous year, the EBIT dropped by EUR 4.1 million
to EUR -0.8 million (Q1 2008/09: EUR 3.3 million). The financial result
deteriorated by EUR 0.4 million to EUR -0.5 million (Q1 2008/09: EUR -0.1
million). The EBT reached EUR -1.4 million and thus remained by EUR 4.6 million
below the previous year´s reference value.

Through the issue of an EUR 40 million corporate bond, the Bene Group has a
balanced balance sheet structure and an additional liquidity reserve for the
coming years. As of April 30, 2009, the equity ratio of 33.5 % still remains at
a high level (January 31, 2009: 46.8 %). On the same reference date, net gearing
amounted to only 17.0 % (April 30, 2008: -3.1 %).

In the first quarter of 2009/10, total investments of the Bene Group for the
finalisation and the start of operation of the research and innovation centre at
the site in Waidhofen/Ybbs as well as the ongoing modernisation of the
production facilities and the distribution sites added up to EUR 3.7 million (Q1
2008/09: EUR 4.0 million).

On the reporting date April 30, 2009, the Bene Group had 1.525 employees and
thus 68 people or 4.7 % more than on April 30, 2008.

According to the current economic forecasts, no improvement is
expected for the current business year 2009/10. In order to be able
to react appropriately quickly and comprehensively in this
environment, the Management of the Bene Group increasingly works with
scenario models. From today´s point of view, no reliable outlook for
the overall year 2009/10 may be provided.

Note. Among others, this report contains statements on potential
future developments, which were made on the basis of currently
available information. Such statements, which reflect the current
assessment of future developments by our Management, cannot be
construed as guarantees for future performance and bear unforeseeable
risk and uncertainty. There may be a variety of reasons for actual
results and conditions to diverge from the assumptions, on which the
statements were based.

The comprehensive quarterly report is available under www.bene.com.

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:

Frank Wiegmann

Chairman of the Management Board

Schwarzwiesenstraße 3, A-3340 Waidhofen/Ybbs

IR Hotline: +43-7442-500-3100

ir@bene.com

Public Relations:

Ursula Grabher

Head of Public Relations

Renngasse 6, A-1010 Wien

Tel. +43-1-534 26-1265

Branche: Furnishings & Furniture
ISIN: AT00000BENE6
WKN:
Index: ATX Prime
Börsen: Wien / official market