EANS-Adhoc: AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG / Preliminary Results for the 2008|09 Financial Year

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Company Information

06.05.2009

Based on preliminary data, in the 2008|09 financial year AGRANA, the
international sugar, starch and fruit group, achieved revenue growth
of 7.1% to EUR 2,026.3 million (prior year: EUR 1,892.3 million). The
revenue expansion was driven by growth in the Starch segment, through
capacity expansion in bioethanol production in Hungary and the
commissioning of a new bioethanol plant in Austria.

Operating profit before exceptional items declined to EUR 37.8
million (from 111.4 million in the prior year). The factors behind
the contraction were write- downs required on apple juice concentrate
in the first half of 2008|09, the expense for restructuring payments
in the course of the European sugar market reform, the strong
increase in energy costs from one year earlier, and disturbances in
agricultural raw materials markets.

The result before tax fell to a loss of EUR 32.4 million (previous
year: profit of EUR 73.1 million). The principal reason for this was
a significant deterioration in net financial items to a net expense
of EUR 67.1 million (prior year: net financial items expense of EUR
28.4 million), as the sharply declining exchange rates in some
Eastern European countries during the fourth quarter of 2008|09 led
to unrealised losses. The Group registered a loss for the year of EUR
15.9 million after tax (prior year: profit for the year of EUR 63.8
million after tax).

Preliminary financial results for the year ended 28 February 2009
2008|09 2007|08
Revenue EURm 2,026.3 1,892.3
Operating profit before exceptional EURm 37.8 111.4
items
Net exceptional items EURm (3.2) (9.9)
Operating profit after exceptional items EURm 34.6 101.5
(Loss)/profit before tax EURm (32.4) 73.1
Net financial items EURm (67.1) (28.4)
(Loss)/profit for the year EURm (15.9) 63.8
- Attributable to equity holders of AGRANA (11.6) 64.3
Beteiligungs-AG (4.3) (0.5)
- Minority interests
(Loss)/profit per share EUR (0.82) 4.53

In the financial year the Fruit segment generated 39.7% of Group
revenue, followed by Sugar at 34.7% and Starch at 25.6%.

The final results for the 2008|09 financial year will be published on
20 May 2009.

end of announcement euro adhoc
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ots Originaltext: AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Further inquiry note:

Investor Relations

Mag. Maria Fally

+43 1 21137 12905

maria.fally@agrana.com

Public Relations

Mag. Ulrike Pichler

+43 1 21137 12084

ulrike.pichler@agrana.com

Branche: Food
ISIN: AT0000603709
WKN: 779535
Index: WBI, ATX Prime
Börsen: Börse Berlin / Präsenzhandel
Börse Frankfurt / Präsenzhandel
Börse Stuttgart / Präsenzhandel
Wiener Börse AG / official market