euro adhoc: AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG / Financial Figures/Balance Sheet / AGRANA continues growth course during first quarter of 2006|07

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Disclosure announcement transmitted by euro adhoc.
The issuer is responsible for the content of this announcement.
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13.07.2006

The AGRANA Group was able to increase revenues by 67.3 percent over
the comparable prior year period to EUR 472.0 million for the first
quarter of the current financial year (March 1 to May 31, 2006).
Income from operations rose to EUR 35.1 million (Q1 2005|06: EUR 18.4
million). Net profit increased from EUR 14.7 million in first quarter
of the prior year to EUR 20.5 million for the first quarter of
2006|07. The development of business during the first quarter of
2006|07 reflects the steady growth of the AGRANA Group in the Fruit
Segment. "On the one hand, the improvement in revenues and earnings
was due to the full consolidation of the Atys Group and the DSF fruit
preparations business in Germany. On the other hand, AGRANA was also
able to significantly increase sales volumes in the Sugar Segment
through additional exports at high world market prices. The
development of the Starch Segment was satisfactory, but results were
affected by lower isoglucose prices", commented AGRANA CEO Johann
Marihart on the first quarter of 2006|07. Net financial expense for
the first quarter of 2006|07 totaled minus EUR 5.9 million (Q1
2005|06: minus EUR 0.6 million) as a result of unrecognized negative
foreign exchange differences and higher interest expenses related to
fruit acquisitions. Furthermore, the consolidation of the Atys Group
was coupled with a decline in income from associates (2005|06: mEUR
1.6).

AGRANA - Indicators according 1st Quarter
to IFRS for March 1 to May 31 2006|07 2005|06
in mEUR
Revenues 472.0 282.1
Income from operations 35.1 18.4
Profit before tax 29.2 17.7
Net profit for the period 20.5 14.7
Capital expenditure for the 1st quarter 21.8 12.1
Employees 7,812 4,622
Revenues by segment are as follows: 1st Quarter
in mEUR 2006|07 2005|06
Sugar Segment 243.0 185.5
Starch Segment 59.6 59.4
Fruit Segment 182.9 46.5
Consolidation (13.5) (9.3)
Revenues - AGRANA Group 472.0 282.1
Outlook
Compared to the previous year, the AGRANA Group expects an increase in revenues
of roughly 20 percent to EUR 1.8 billion for the 2006|07 financial year. This
growth will also result from the change in the accounting dates of the fruit
companies from December 31 to the last day of February and the related inclusion
of two additional months in this financial year. In the Sugar Segment, the
expiration of C sugar exports at the end of the second quarter will lead to a
slight decline in sugar revenues for the full year. This development will be
contrasted with steady revenues growth in the Starch and Fruit Segment. This
will be driven by the expansion of capacity in the starch area with a focus on
special starch products, an increase in sales of bioethanol in Hungary,
acquisitions in the fruit juice concentrate sector in China and sustained strong
organic growth. AGRANA intends to invest roughly EUR 200 million in current
projects and in the start of construction on a bioethanol plant in Austria
during 2006|07.
AGRANA’s income from operations will be negatively influenced by payments to the
European sugar restructuring fund in the following quarters. The favorable
influence of the high worldwide sugar price during the first quarter will lose
its impact in subsequent quarters due to a lack of export opportunities, even
though prices on the European sugar market are expected to recover beginning in
autumn 2006. The Fruit Segment will provide the major support for earnings in
the current financial year. The steady improvement of business processes in all
areas and continued growth in the Starch Segment and Fruit Segment should allow
AGRANA to match the level of income from operations that was recorded in the
previous year.
The press release and the report on the first quarter are available in German
and English under www.agrana.com.

end of announcement euro adhoc 13.07.2006 07:23:43
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ots Originaltext: AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Further inquiry note:
AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG
Doris Schober
Investor Relations/Corporate Communications
Phone: +43-1-211 37-12084
e-mail:investor.relations@agrana.at

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