DGAP-News

BayWa AG: Business figures 2014: Satisfactory result in extremely difficult agricultural year - increase anticipated for 2015 - Seite 2

Agriculture business shaped by price drops
In the Agriculture Segment, revenues in the financial year 2014 stood at
EUR10.1 billion (2013: EUR10.7 billion). EBIT came to EUR113.4 million
(2013: EUR123.5 million). In agricultural trade and fruit trade, the
financial year was dominated by a sharp fall in produce prices, as harvests
of both grain and fruit were extremely high worldwide. Fruit trade in
Germany was also impacted by the Russian embargo on Polish apples. Low
prices had a corresponding effect on margins. In contrast to the rest of
the industry, agricultural equipment continued to develop positively.
Agricultural trade generated revenues of EUR8.2 billion (2013: EUR8.9
billion). EBIT stood at EUR65.1 million (2013: EUR80.4 million). The BayWa
Group sold some 26.8 million tonnes of grain, oilseed and oilseed meal in
the financial year 2014. This equates to a year-on-year increase of
approximately 5%.
Revenues in the Fruit business unit came to EUR563.9 million in 2014 (2013:
EUR567.7 million). EBIT rose to EUR25.6 million (2013: EUR21.6 million).
This major rise was predominantly due to the New Zealand company Apollo
Apples Limited, which was acquired at the end of 2014.
Agricultural equipment generated a slight rise in revenues in 2014, which
stood at EUR1.31 billion (2013: EUR1.29 billion). EBIT rose to EUR22.7
million (2013: EUR21.4 million). Agricultural equipment business developed
positively in comparison with the rest of the industry, as BayWa was
successful in positioning new products and services on the market,
particularly in the area of indoor equipment (farm equipment and systems).

Regenerative energies experience considerable growth
The Energy Segment generated revenues of EUR3.5 billion in the financial
year 2014 (2013: EUR3.5 billion) and EBIT of EUR42.3 million (2013: EUR45.1
million). The mild winter, coupled with drastic fall in oil prices,
impacted revenues and EBIT in BayWa's conventional energy business
significantly in the financial year 2014. By contrast, the lubricants
business developed positively, recording an increase in sales of almost 8%.
In the areas of conventional energy, the overall price trend caused heating
oil and fuel revenues to fall to EUR2.7 billion (2013: EUR3.0 billion).
EBIT stood at EUR5.8 million (2013: EUR10.6 million).
By contrast, the Renewable Energies business experienced extremely positive
development, making a major contribution to the success of the Energy
Segment on account of its international orientation. Despite some difficult