DGAP-Adhoc: CropEnergies acquires UK bioethanol producer Ensus - Bioethanol production capacity increases by 50 percent

CropEnergies AG / Key word(s): Acquisition/Capital Increase

19.07.2013 18:42

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Mannheim, 19 July 2013 - CropEnergies AG, Mannheim, acquires the UK
bioethanol producer Ensus Limited, based in Yarm, England. The company
operates one of the largest production plants for bioethanol in Europe, in
the northeast of England with an annual capacity of 400,000 cubic metres of
bioethanol and 350,000 tonnes of dried protein animal feed (DDGS). In
addition, carbon dioxide is delivered to an adjacent liquefaction plant
which processes it for utilisation in the food and drinks industry. The
bioethanol plant was commissioned at the beginning of 2010 and employs
approximately one hundred employees. CropEnergies will significantly
improve the competitiveness of the company by investing more than 50
million GBP.

The acquisition of Ensus was completed on 19 July 2013 by a contribution in
kind in return for the issuance of 2.25 million new CropEnergies shares.
The issuing price per share is EUR 5.98 (ex dividend), corresponding to a
total value of EUR 13.5 million or respectively a premium of 5 percent on
the weighted average share price of the last 3 months. Ensus is being sold
by funds affiliated to The Carlyle Group, one of the largest global
alternative asset managers worldwide with assets under management of more
than US$ 176 billion. Through the capital increase within the scope of the
authorised capital, Carlyle will become a shareholder in CropEnergies,
holding 2.6 percent of the stock. The companies do not disclose further
details of the transaction.

With the purchase of Ensus, CropEnergies strengthens its position as one of
the leading bioethanol producers in Europe and increases its annual
production capacity of bioethanol by 50 percent to more than 1.2 million
cubic metres. The production capacities in the UK add to the network of the
company, which already operates production plants for bioethanol in
Germany, Belgium and France. Via Ensus, CropEnergies gains access to the
British bioethanol market, the third largest market for bioethanol in the
EU after Germany and France. Together with the processing plant for neutral
alcohol with an investment volume of EUR 27 million, that is being built in
Zeitz, Germany, until 2015, CropEnergies hereby continues the expansion of
its business pursued within the last years.

CropEnergies AG

Ensuring mobility in a climate friendly way - today and in the future - is
CropEnergies' business. Founded in Mannheim, Germany, in 2006, the young
and dynamically growing member of the Südzucker Group is one of the leading
European manufacturers of sustainably produced bioethanol for the fuel
sector today. With its production capacities of 1.2 million cubic meters of
bioethanol per year, CropEnergies produces bioethanol which predominantly
replaces petrol in four modern production facilities in Germany, Belgium,
the UK, and France. The highly efficient production facilities reduce CO2
emissions by up to 70 percent across the whole value-added chain compared
to fossil fuel. With the production sites, the unique logistics network in
Europe as well as trading offices in the USA and Brazil, CropEnergies is
one of the leading companies in a major emerging market.

At the same time, CropEnergies is an important producer of food and animal
feed products. The raw materials which are used such as cereals and sugar
beets are completely utilized. As a result, more than 800,000 tonnes of
high-quality protein food and animal feed products are manufactured every
year out of the non-fermentable components of the raw materials.

Through advanced technology and innovation CropEnergies contributes to
ensure a sustainable mobility from renewable sources today and in the
future through its main product bioethanol: mobility - sustainable.
renewable.

The CropEnergies AG stock (ISIN DE000AOLAUP1) has been listed at the
regulated market (Prime Standard) at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since
2006.

Contact:
Heike Baumbach
Investor Relations
Tel.: +49 (621) 71 41 90-30
Fax: +49 (621) 71 41 90-03
ir@cropenergies.de

Nadine Dejung
Public Relations / Marketing
Tel.: +49 (621) 71 41 90-65
Fax: +49 (621) 71 41 90-04
presse@cropenergies.de

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Language: English
Company: CropEnergies AG
Gottlieb-Daimler-Str. 12
68165 Mannheim
Germany
Phone: +49 (0)621-71 41 90 00
Fax: +49 (0)621-71 41 90 04
E-mail: info@cropenergies.de
Internet: www.cropenergies.com
ISIN: DE000A0LAUP1
WKN: A0LAUP
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr
in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, München, Stuttgart

End of Announcement DGAP News-Service

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