Umsatz und operatives Ergebnis EBIT I liegen im zweiten Quartal deutlich über den angepassten Vorjahreswerten sowie der Konsenserwartung / Ausblick der K+S Gruppe für das Gesamtjahr 2012 bestätigt

K+S Group’s second quarter revenues and earnings are significantly above the corresponding previous year’s figures which were adjusted because of the divestment of K+S Nitrogen and also significantly exceed the current consensus expectations due to a strong overseas business and a good early stocking-up in Europe in the Potash and Magnesium Products business segment. Therefore, key financial data for the second quarter are being released already today: Revenues of the K+S Group reached € 996.5 million (Q2/11: € 821.7 million) and operating earnings EBIT I reached € 219.8 million (Q2/11: € 181.9 million).

For 2012 as a whole, K+S confirms outlook. A quantification will be published in the Half-yearly Financial Report H1/12; the ranges for the expectations regarding revenues and operating earnings EBIT I are specified already today: In the fiscal year 2012, revenues of the K+S Group should reach a figure between € 3.9 billion and € 4.2 billion (previous year: € 4.0 billion). Revenues in the Potash and Magnesium Products business segment, on the basis of the currently achieved potash price level, should increase moderately and revenues in the Salt business segment are expected to decline tangibly. Operating earnings EBIT I should reach a figure of between € 820 million and € 900 million (previous year: € 906.2 million). In the Potash and Magnesium Products business segment, slightly increasing (previously: stable) operating earnings are expected. In the Salt business segment, operating earnings might decline strongly in comparison to last year, which benefited from above-average volumes of de-icing salt.

As planned, the K+S Group will release a detailed overview of the second quarter as well as a detailed forecast report in its Half-yearly Financial Report H1/12 on 14 August 2012.

K+S Aktiengesellschaft
Kassel, 30 July 2012
The Board of Executive Directors 

End of the ad hoc disclosure