Raisio’s EBIT improved

Raisio plc      Interim Report 8 May 2012 at 8:30 Finnish time

RAISIO’S EBIT IMPROVED

January-March 2012, continuing operations excluding one-off items

• Net sales growth 11%, net sales EUR 135.0 million (Q1/2011: EUR 121.7 million)
• EBIT EUR 6.6 million (Q1/2011: EUR 6.1 million) accounting for 4.9% (5.0%) of net sales
• Good profitability for the Brands Division, EBIT 11.1% (8.0%) of net sales  
• Raisioagro’s EBIT negative due to market conditions in feed protein operations

Raisio Group’s key figures

*  Excluding one-off items
** Including acquisitions
*** Excluding the company shares held by the Group

Chief Executive’s review

“Raisio showed continued growth as expected in the first quarter of 2012. In the Brands Division, our determined work led to clearly improved profitability and increased net sales. The most significant profitability improvement was seen in our Western European food operations, or in the companies that have become part of Raisio through acquisition. Benecol’s profitability remained at its ordinary good level. Good performance of the Brands Division shows that we have chosen the right path. In challenging market conditions and rapidly changing markets, we have been able to improve our results and to develop our operations as the forerunner of the sector.

As a Group with a strong balance sheet, we are in a good place to continue the implementation of our growth phase also through acquisitions. In the review period, the Group’s food operations in Poland expanded in line with objectives as we acquired Sulma’s pasta and grits operations. The acquisition enables Raisio’s growth as well as the expansion of our product range in Poland.

Raisioagro now has the first quarter behind with its new structure and service concept. Customers have well received Raisioagro’s new competitive service concept. This provides a good foundation for cooperation with our customers and for further development of services. As expected, the profitability of feed protein operations continued weak. The oil seed crushing industry is struggling with profitability issues across Europe.

Over the last few years, Raisio has grown to become an attractive partner, and we are widely cooperating with major Finnish companies at the leading edge to develop green economy solutions that are also economically viable. Raisio has versatile expertise that can also be used when developing future solutions for food production and for sustainable use of natural resources. Bioeconomy is an opportunity also for Raisio.”

Guidance

Raisio continues the implementation of its growth strategy both organically and through acquisitions. We expect EBIT to further improve annually.

RAISIO PLC

Heidi Hirvonen
Communications and IR Manager
Tel. +358 50 567 3060

Further information:

Matti Rihko, CEO, tel. +358 400 830 727
Jyrki Paappa, CFO, tel. +358 50 5566 512
Heidi Hirvonen, Communications and IR Manager, tel. +358 50 567 3060

Events:

A press and analyst event in Finnish will be arranged in Helsinki on Tuesday 8 May 2012 starting at 1.30 p.m. Finnish time. It will be held at Hotel Scandic Simonkenttä, in the Pavilion meeting room. The address is Simonkatu 9, Helsinki.

A teleconference in English will be held on 8 May 2012 at 3.30 p.m. Finnish time.
Participants are requested to call the number +358 (0)9 8248 3782, PIN code 32582.