EANS-Adhoc: BENE AG / Results for the first half-year of 2010/11.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

quarterly report

22.09.2010

- Slight market recovery in Western Europe in the second quarter
- Sales still declining in the first half-year
- EBIT maintained at previous year´s level
- Equity ratio of 28.7 % remains solid
- Project pipeline is filling-up again

Vienna/Waidhofen an der Ybbs, September 22, 2010. The still difficult
economic environment in most of the sales markets had a negative
impact on sales of the Bene Group in the first six months of the
current business year. Accumulated sales of EUR 77.1 million in the
first half-year of 2010/11 were 19.5 % lower than the reference value
of the previous year (1st HY 2009/10: EUR 95.8 million). However, in
the second quarter of 2010/11, Bene achieved an increase in sales of
6.6 % compared to the first quarter of 2010/11. With a sales increase
of 1.0 % to EUR 27.1 million (1st HY 2009/10: EUR 26.8 million), the
Austria segment showed a slightly positive trend in the first six
months of the financial year. In the first half-year of 2010/11,
Germany recorded a decline in sales of 24.8 % to EUR 20.3 million
(1st HY 2009/10: EUR 27.0 million). For the first time since the
first quarter of 2009/10, the UK segment´s sales of EUR 5.8 million
in the second quarter of 2010/11 were clearly higher than in prior
quarters. In the first half-year of 2010/11, sales grew in total by
5.7 % to EUR 8.8 million (1st HY 2009/10: EUR 8.3 million). Despite
the subdued investment climate, for the first time since the second
quarter of 2009/10, with sales of EUR 5.0 million in the second
quarter of 2010/11, the Bene Group improved sales in Russia and
clearly exceeded the reference values of the previous quarters. In
total, sales of the first half-year of 2010/11 in the amount of EUR
7.8 million were 54.9 % lower than the previous year´s value (1st HY
2009/10: EUR 17.2 million). As already in previous quarters, the
"other markets" segment showed a very heterogeneous development in
the first six months of the current financial year. Whereas markets
such as Middle East, Hungary, Czechia, Ukraine and Switzerland
remained below the sales of the reference period of the past year,
the Bene Group realised significantly higher sales than in the first
half-year of 2009/10 in markets such as Asia, India, Ireland, France,
Belgium or Poland. In total, the "other markets" sales dropped by
19.7 % to EUR 13.2 million (1st HY 2009/10: EUR 16.4 million).

As a result of the human resources flexibilisation and material cost
cutting measures already implemented in the first quarter of 2009/10
and the slight increase in sales in the second quarter 2010/11, the
Bene Group could stabilise the EBIT of EUR -6.4 million in the first
half-year of 2010/11 at the previous year´s reference level (1st HY
2009/10: EUR -6.4 million). In total, after the first six months of
the current reporting period 2010/11, the EBT of EUR -8.0 million was
slightly lower than the past year´s value (1st HY 2009/10: EUR -7.7
million).

At the end of the second quarter, the equity ratio amounted to 28.7 %
(January 31, 2010: 31.7 %) At the same time, net gearing came to 68.2
% (January 31, 2010: 24.6 %).

Additions to property, plant and equipment and to intangible assets
in the amount of EUR 3.0 million in the first half-year of 2010/11
(1st HY 2009/10: EUR 6.9 million) remained clearly below the previous
year´s level. Investments in replacements at the site in
Waidhofen/Ybbs as well as investments in the new location in Vienna
represented the largest items.

On the reporting date July 31, 2010, the Bene Group occupied 1,265
employees. Compared to the previous period, the headcount decreased
by 136 persons or 9.7 %.

As late cyclical, the Bene group is hit by both, positive and
negative economic developments only at a later stage. After a first
phase of stabilisation at the beginning of the third quarter of
2009/10, since the beginning of the second quarter of 2010/11,
noticeable signs of recovery are observed in the Western European
markets. This is especially the case in the UK segment and thus the
market hit first by the international economic crisis. This fact and
the remarkable positive development in the Middle East are reflected
in the Bene project pipeline, which is increasingly filling-up again,
even though the Eastern European markets continue to show a volatile
development.

On the basis of the existing capacities and the extensive
distribution network as well as the clear focus on direct sales, in
the medium-term, Bene has a strong organic growth potential. Since
Bene has introduced profitable products to the sales organisation in
the last years and has made essential investments in the capacity at
the site in Waidhofen/Ybbs, in case of a market recovery, the Bene
Group should be able to realise a considerably higher increase in
sales and earnings, compared to the industry.

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 Board, cannot be
construed as guarantees for future performance and bear unforeseeable
risks and uncertainties. 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 half-year financial report
is available under www.bene.com

end of announcement euro adhoc
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ots Originaltext: BENE AG
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Further inquiry note:

Investor Relations:

Martina Vomela

Schwarzwiesenstraße 3

A-3340 Waidhofen/Ybbs

IR Hotline: +43-7442-500-3100

ir@bene.com

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