Zörbig/Leipzig, 29 July 2013 – The Federal Cartel Office has no objection to the acquisition of 11 essential Märka locations in Brandenburg, Saxony and Thuringia by the Hauptgenossenschaft Nord AG, Kiel (HaGe). On 25 July 2013, the necessary approval was granted for the completion of the transaction, so this can now be implemented in the short term. The release by the Federal Cartel Office is unrestricted. Thus, the most important take-over condition has been satisfied. In addition to land and property, the employment contracts of approximately 70 staff members employed at the sold sites shall be transferred to HaGe as of 1 August 2013.
The contracts closed with Märka GmbH are not affected by the sale. The processing via the respective sites is ensured. The northern sites (Gransee, Eberswalde, Golzow, Werneuchen [Mühlenstrasse], Neustadt, Wustermark and Brandenburg) will be managed by HaGe as of 1 August 2013, while the southern sites (Seitschen, Grosshennersdorf Oberböhmsdorf and Grosssteinberg) will be administered by the HaGe subsidiary Roth Agrarhandel GmbH, Kirchhain.
About VERBIO Vereinigte BioEnergie AG (VERBIO) VERBIO is one of the leading independent producers and suppliers of biofuels and also the only industrial-scale producer of biodiesel, bioethanol and biomethane in Europe. Nominal capacity currently amounts to around 450,000 tonnes of biodiesel, 300,000 tonnes of bioethanol and 480 gigawatt hours of biomethane per year. In the production of its highly efficient fuels, the company uses its own energy-saving production processes and innovative technologies. The biofuels produced by VERBIO achieve CO2 reductions of up to 90 per cent compared with petrol and diesel. VERBIO supplies its products directly to European oil corporations, oil traders, independent filling stations, haulage companies, public utilities and vehicle fleets. VERBIO AG also markets high-quality pharma glycerine for the consumer goods and cosmetic industries (glycerine is a by-product of biodiesel production). VERBIO Vereinigte BioEnergie AG acts as the management holding company within the Group. The Group’s operating business is run by its subsidiaries VERBIO Diesel Bitterfeld GmbH & Co. KG, VERBIO Diesel Schwedt GmbH & Co. KG, VERBIO Ethanol Schwedt GmbH & Co. KG, VERBIO Ethanol Zörbig GmbH & Co. KG and Märka GmbH. VERBIO shares (ISIN DE000A0JL9W6/WKN A0JL9W) have been listed on the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since October 2006.