BKN BioKraftstoff Nord AG becomes BKN biostrom AG. Sales and earnings in H1 increased considerably.

- Significant growth against the trend of the competition suggested
- Name change and relocation of the registered office carried out
- High growth dynamic expected for H2

Bokel/Vechta - BKN biostrom AG (previously BKN BioKraftstoff Nord AG) has realised considerable company growth according to the preliminary H1 figures (31 March 2008). With sales of EUR 20.7 m (previous year: EUR 1.6 m), the company generated operating profit (EBIT) of EUR 1.3 m (previous year: EUR 0.2 m). This allowed the company to continue its positive development despite a difficult market environment in Germany at the moment. As for the current H2, the Managing Board expects a continuation of the growth dynamic, all of which should come from the ongoing activities of the Biogas segment.

In detail, the company featured positive operating profit of EUR 1.6 m from the ongoing activities in H1, while a loss of EUR 0.3 m accrued in the discontinued biodiesel business. This trend has again confirmed the accuracy of the company strategy, in which it aims to place its full concentration on biogas activities.


Name change and relocation of the registered office carried out

The altered company strategy also allows for a name change to BKN biostrom AG as agreed upon at the annual general meeting. In addition, the company’s registered office was relocated from Sprakensehl-Bokel to Vechta, thus realising the plans of streamlining the company structure.

In its outlook, the Managing Board is holding out on giving statements overall on the concrete target figures for the fiscal year 2007/ 2008 given the fact that the market environment is proving difficult to forecast. It does, however, assume that it will be able to generate considerable additional sales and earnings growth in the current H2 as compared to H1. The drawn-out decision-making process of politicians with regard to the future aid for renewable energy sources as well as the approval procedures, some of which are also drawn out, have debilitated growth.


Positive impulses expected from the amendment to the EEG

As was announced last Friday, representatives of the governing parties have now agreed to heavily lift the subsidy rates for generating biogas. The upcoming amendment to the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) should come to a vote in the Bundestag this week. This will give investors as well as developers and operators of biogas plants a degree of planning reliability for the coming years. BKN biostrom AG expects the improved aid conditions for biogas plants to yield significant positive impulses for its business model in the medium term.


Company profile

BKN biostrom AG specialises in the project development of biogas plants. BKN biostrom acts as a successful general developer in the market for biogas plants through its operating subsidiaries. In doing so, it covers the entire value chain: the company has extensive know-how ranging from securing sites, development, permit acquisition and the construction and launch of biogas plants to the efficient management of plants. The company’s many years of experience in supervising biological processes at biogas plants gives BKN biostrom its specific market expertise.


Bokel/Vechta, 4 June 2008


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Attention editorial offices: For further questions please contact Mr.
Ulrich Wogart, CEO BKN biostrom AG.

Große Elbstraße 45
22767 Hamburg
Tel: ++49 (0)40 357 188 60
Fax: ++49 (0)40 357 188 62
E-Mail: wogart@bkn-ag.de
Internet: http://www.bkn-ag.de

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