Ad-hoc | 7 June 2001 08:01

Südzucker AG english

Ad hoc announcement processed and transmitted by DGAP. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ——————————————————————————– Südzucker plans standardization of capital structure Südzucker AG Mannheim/Ochsenfurt, Mannheim plans to convert its preference shares into ordinary shares. With this step the attractivity of the Südzucker- shares will be improved. This standardization to 143,0 million ordinary shares instead of former 111,9 million ordinary shares and 31,1 million preference shares will enhance stock liquidity. Beyond that Südzucker is confident that its weight within the MDAX-Index will be improved besides the change within the indexweighting to free float from June 2002 on. It will be proposed to the general meeting on August 23, 2001, to convert all preference shares 1:1 into ordinary shares. After the conversion each Südzucker share will bear a voting right (one share – one vote). Südzucker thus takes into account of internationally used Corporate Governance and stock market standards. The Südzucker ordinary shares today are held by the Süddeutsche Zuckerrübenverwertungsgenossenschaft with around 60%, Deutsche Bank AG with 13% and Austrian shareholders with 6% – totalling 79%. After the conversion these shareholder groups will hold 66% of the subscribed capital and thus free float will increase to 34%. Also all shareholders will then have a voting right. The new standardized dividend for the business year 2001/02 will be oriented by the preference share’s higher dividend level. Mannheim, 7th of June 2001 end of ad hoc announcement (c) DGAP 07.06.2001 ——————————————————————————– WKN: 729700; Index: MDAX Listed: Amtlicher Handel in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, München und Stuttgart; Freiverkehr in Hannover 070801 Jun 01