Best fiscal year in the company’s history / dividend increased to €1.40 / personnel changes on the Executive and Supervisory Boards (13.12.2007)

(Einbeck, December 13, 2007/no.38/gf) – The shareholders of KWS SAAT AG adopted all the items on the agenda at today’s Annual Shareholders’ Meeting by a large majority. The financial statements for fiscal 2006/2007 were approved and discharge was granted to the Executive Board and Supervisory Board. The shareholder representatives on the Supervisory Board were newly elected. KWS, which is one of the leading international seed companies and operates in 70 countries, grew profitably in the year under review and posted new records for net sales and earnings.

Net sales rise by 6.5% to €538 million and EBIT by 37% to €64 million

The KWS Group’s net sales rose in fiscal 2006/2007 by 6.5% to €537.9 million. KWS profited in particular from the expansion in global corn production. It was also able to maintain its high level of sales in the sugarbeet business, while business with cereals recovered. Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) improved by 36.8% to €63.9 million, in particular thanks to foresighted measures to optimize costs, mainly in sugarbeet business. A profit-related dividend of €1.40 per share will be distributed to shareholders tomorrow from the net income for the year of €38.2 (€28.4) million.

Forecast for 2007/2008: slight increase in net sales and stable earnings year-on-year

“KWS turned in very good results last fiscal year. We will continue to grow net sales on the back of a positive performance in cereals, planned increases in net corn sales and, we anticipate, stable sugarbeet business,” stated the departing Chairman of the Executive Board, Andreas J. Büchting. “We are also confident of maintaining our earnings level.”

Continuation of tried-and-tested principles with a new team

Dr. Andreas J. Büchting retired as Chairman of the Executive Board when the Shareholders’ Meeting concluded and moved to the Supervisory Board, which was newly elected at the end of its term of office. Election of the new members Hubertus von Baumbach and Cathrina Claas as shareholder representatives means that the board's average age is significantly lower. Dr. Arend Oetker was reelected, whereas the long-serving Chairman, Dr. Guenther H. W. Stratmann, and Professor Ernst-Ludwig Winnacker and Goetz von Engelbrechten retired from the board. At its constituent meeting following the Shareholders’ Meeting, the new Supervisory Board elected Andreas J. Büchting as its Chairman, Arend Oetker as Deputy Chairman and Hubertus von Baumbach as Chairman of the Audit Committee.

The departure of Andreas J. Büchting from the Executive Board marks the end of a more than 150-year tradition in which a member of the founding families has always guided the company’s fortunes from that body. His successor as Chairman of the Executive Board is Philip von dem Bussche, who aims to continue the value-oriented strategy of the innovative company with a family ownership tradition.

Contact:
Georg Folttmann
KWS SAAT AG
Phone: +49 (0)55 61 / 311-640
g.folttmann@kws.com