DGAP-Adhoc

CropEnergies increases forecast for financial year 2016/17 once more - After record year 2016/17, normalization expected for 2017/18

DGAP-Ad-hoc: CropEnergies AG / Key word(s): Change in Forecast/Forecast CropEnergies increases forecast for financial year 2016/17 once more - After record year 2016/17, normalization expected for 2017/18 13-Feb-2017 / 13:41 CET/CEST Disclosure of an inside information acc. to Article 17 MAR, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Mannheim, 13 February 2017 - CropEnergies AG, Mannheim, once more increases its forecast for the current financial year 2016/17 (1 March 2016 - 28 February 2017). The main reasons for the better earnings situation are the spot prices for bioethanol which continue to be significantly higher than the previously expected forward prices as well as the high capacity utilization in all four production plants. With this, CropEnergies strengthens its position as leading bioethanol producer in the EU. For the full financial year 2016/17, CropEnergies now expects revenues of EUR 800 to EUR 810 (previously expected: EUR 760 to EUR 790, previous year: EUR 723) million. Operating profit is to reach EUR 95 to EUR 100 (previously expected: EUR 70 to EUR 85, previous year: EUR 87) million. At the same time, CropEnergies expects a record EBITDA of approximately EUR 130 to EUR 135 (previous year: EUR 122) million. The business performance in the coming financial year 2017/18 will again be largely dependent on the volatile developments of the prices on bioethanol markets. The forward prices for bioethanol in Europe currently show a significant reduction for the financial year 2017/18, though they have only limited significance. Against this background and on the basis of current grain prices, CropEnergies expects a normalization of the operating profit for the financial year 2017/18 to a range of EUR 40 to EUR 80 million. This corresponds to an EBITDA between EUR 80 and EUR 120 million. Consequently, CropEnergies should be completely debt-free for the first time in company history. The annual report for the financial year 2016/17 will be published on 17