DGAP-News

Ekosem-Agrar clearly boosts its profits in 2014 - Seite 2

totalled roughly 153,700 tons, up 28% on the previous year (2013: 120,000
tons). At the end of the year, the daily milk output amounted to 430 tons -
a 16.2% improvement on the 370 tons reported in December 2013. In June, the
daily milk output stood at 520 tons. The picture in the Group's farming
segment was mixed. Following a record grain harvest, some crops harvested
later in the year such as sugar beet and maize, were below expectations due
to the dry late summer. The farming segment's sales revenues totalled EUR
24.7 million (previous year: EUR 29.5 million). The fodder supply for the
herd is secured until well into 2016. The Group's third business segment,
meat production, reported a moderate uplift in sales revenues from the
previous year's EUR 5.7 million to EUR 6.6 million.

In spite of the strong profit growth, the weakness of the rouble against
the euro is reflected in total assets and equity capital, but these are
non-cash effects. As of 31 December 2014, the Ekosem Group's total assets
stood at EUR 360.4 million (previous year: EUR 456 million), while the
equity ratio was reported at approx. 10% (previous year: 21%). The rouble
slightly recovered in the first half of 2015, which is reflected in higher
total assets and equity capital. Operating cash flow improved notably from
EUR -8.7 million to EUR -0.04 million in the reporting period.

Says Wolfgang Bläsi, Managing Director and CFO of Ekosem-Agrar GmbH: "In
spite of the unresolved Ukraine conflict and the economic crisis in Russia,
we are optimistic about the future. If everything runs to plan, we expect
sales revenues to grow by at least 20% and project a further increase in
EBITDA."


About Ekosem-Agrar

Ekosem-Agrar GmbH Walldorf, Germany is the German holding company in the
Ekoniva Group, one of the largest Russian agricultural companies. With over
49,450 head of cattle (thereof 20,800 dairy cows) and an average milk
production of more than 450 tons per day, the company is the largest milk
producer in the country. The group has more than 195,000 hectares of
farmland and is also one of the leading producers of seed in Russia. The
founder and managing director of the company is Stefan Duerr. He has been
active in Russian agriculture since the 1980s and has played a decisive
role in its modernization over the past two decades. In 2009, he was
awarded the German Federal Cross of Merit for his contributions to the
agricultural policy dialog between Germany and Russia. The corporate group