EANS-Adhoc: Significant rise in Q1 revenues and earnings / Forecast raised for year as a whole

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ad-hoc disclosure pursuant to section 15 of the WpHG 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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3-month report

02.05.2011

First quarter revenues and operating earnings EBIT I reach EUR
1,776.5 million (+ 16% against the previous year) and EUR 384.3
million (+ 44% against the previous year) respectively / Therefore,
K+S quarterly figures are substantially higher than the figures for
the same period last year and consensus expectations / K+S Group´s
forecast raised

K+S Group´s first quarter revenues and earnings figures, especially
in the Nitrogen Fertilizers and Salt business segments, are
substantially above the corresponding figures for the previous year
and also considerably exceed the current consensus expectations.
Therefore, key financial data for the first quarter is already being
released today: Revenues reached EUR 1,776.5 million (Q1/10: EUR
1,533.6 million), operat-ing earnings EBIT I EUR 384.3 million
(Q1/10: EUR 267.7 million), and adjusted earnings after taxes EUR
272.0 million or EUR 1.42 per share (Q1/10: EUR 175.8 million or EUR
0.92 per share).

After the normalisation of demand for fertilizers in 2010, the first
quarter of 2011 was characterised by strong demand. The unchanged
high level of agricultural prices favoured the earnings prospects of
the agricultural sector, so that there is a significant incentive to
raise yields per hectare through the increased use of fertilizers.
For both potash and magnesium products and nitrogen fertilizers, this
resulted in a very high utilisation of production capacities
throughout the world. In the salt business segment, the wintry
weather on the East Coast of the United States and in Europe
triggered above-average demand for de-icing salt.

Against the backdrop of the positive demand and price trends emerging
during the course of the first quarter of 2011, the revenues of the
K+S Group should rise significantly (previously: tangibly) in
financial year 2011 against the previous year. Operating earnings
EBIT I should increase strongly (previously: significantly) in
comparison to the figures for the previous year. This is primarily
due to a probably strong (previously: significant) growth in earnings
in the Potash and Magnesium Products business segment as well as a
tangible (previously: moderate) improvement in operating earnings in
the Nitrogen Fertilizers business segment. Operating earnings of the
Salt business segment will probably decline moderately in comparison
to the record results experienced last year.

As planned, the K+S Group will release its Quarterly Financial Report
for the first quarter 2011 on 11 May 2011.

K+S Aktiengesellschaft
Kassel, 2 May 2011
The Board of Executive Directors

end of announcement euro adhoc
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ots Originaltext: K+S Aktiengesellschaft
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Further inquiry note:

Christian Herrmann
Phone: +49(0)561-9301-1460
E-Mail: christian.herrmann@k-plus-s.com

Branche: Chemicals
ISIN: DE0007162000
WKN: 716200
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