2013-09-02 12:30:00 CEST

2013-09-02 12:30:01 CEST


REGULATED INFORMATION

Finnish English
Raisio - Company Announcement

EU decision impaired the potential for profitable vegetable oil crushing in Finland


Raisio plc           Stock Exchange Release, 2 September 2013 at 1:30 p.m.
(Finnish time) 

EU DECISION IMPAIRED THE POTENTIAL FOR PROFITABLE VEGETABLE OIL CRUSHING IN
FINLAND 

The EU decision will ban the use of the most common plant protection product
used in oil seed cultivation starting on 1 December 2013. As a result of the
decision, the estimated oilseed cultivated area continues to decline
significantly in Finland, which has led to co-operation negotiations in
Raisio's oil milling industry. 

Raisio's oil milling industry adjustment carried out last winter and
investments in production efficiency and flexibility will not be sufficient to
secure profitable business in the new situation. The EU's decision to ban the
use of neonicotinoids will further weaken the availability of Finnish seed and
the crushing of imported seed is not economically feasible. 

On 2 September 2013, Raisio started co-operation negotiations on financial and
production-related grounds for the re-evaluation of the factory capacities and
possible closure of operations. The negotiations concern 15 employees. 

During the current crop season, oilseed plants have been grown on some 50,000
hectares in Finland while three years ago, the area under oilseed cultivation
was nearly 160,000 hectares. The 2013 oilseed harvest is estimated to reach
80,000 tonnes, which does not allow profitable oil milling industry in Finland. 

RAISIO PLC

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

Further information:
Leif Liedes, Vice President Raisioagro Ltd, tel. +358 50 608 26





Raisio Group briefly

Raisio plc is an international specialist in plant-based nutrition. Raisio's
operations are divided into two divisions: Brands and Raisioagro. The Group's
key market areas are Finland, Great Britain, the Czech Republic, Russia,
Ukraine, Poland, Estonia and Sweden. Raisio plc's shares are listed on NASDAQ
OMX Helsinki Ltd. In 2012, the Group's net sales totalled EUR 584 million and
EBIT was EUR 35 million. The Group employs some 1,900 people. Raisio's
best-known brands are Benecol, Honey Monster, Elovena, Fox's, Dormen, Juicee
Gummee, Poppets, Nordic and Benemilk. 





Distribution
NASDAQ OMX
Key media
www.raisio.com