EANS-News: AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG / AGRANA's first half of 2012|13: Good performance in a volatile environment

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quarterly report/6-month report

Wien (euro adhoc) - In the first half of 2012|13, AGRANA
significantly grew both revenue (by 24.8% to EUR 1,603.1 million) and
pre-exceptionals operating profit (by 20.6% to EUR 142.5 million).
The good earnings trend was driven by the Sugar and Starch segments.
Earnings declined in the Fruit segment, but markets and sales in this
business have stabilised again. In addition to the effective
investment programme, a key reason for the successful first half was
the correct anticipation of market changes.

As a result of reorganisation measures, the Fruit segment recorded a
net expense of EUR 1.0 million for exceptional items in the second
quarter. After the Group's net financial items expense of EUR 13.0
million and a tax expense of EUR 28.9 million (corresponding to a tax
rate of 22.5%), Group profit for the period reached EUR 99.6 million.
Net debt at the end of the first six months was EUR 389.5 million, a
considerable reduction of EUR 79.7 million from its level at the end
of the prior year. The equity ratio rose to 49.3% and the gearing
ratio of net debt to total equity, at 33.1%, was significantly better
than on 29 February 2012.

AGRANA results (1 March to 31 August 2012)

H1 12|13 H1 11|12 Q2 12|13 Q2 11|12
Revenue EUR 1,603.1 m EUR 1,284.7 m EUR 828.5 m EUR 671.8 m
EBITDA(1) EUR 176.6 m EUR 152.2 m EUR 89.8 m EUR 73.7 m
Operating profit before
exceptional items EUR 142.5 m EUR 118.2 m EUR 71.6 m EUR 56.6 m
Operating margin 8.9% 9.2% 8.6% 8.4%
Operating profit after
exceptional items EUR 141.5 m EUR 116.7 m EUR 70.6 m EUR 55.1 m
Profit for the period EUR 99.6 m EUR 77.7 m EUR 52.1 m EUR 34.6 m
Earnings per share EUR 6.86 EUR 5.36 EUR 3.54 EUR 2.43
Purchases of property,
plant and equipment and
intangibles(2) EUR 59.6 m EUR 35.5 m EUR 36.9 m EUR 21.3 m
Average staff count 8,519 8,177
(1) Before exceptional items

(2) Excluding goodwill

AGRANA Chief Executive Officer Johann Marihart comments: "The
earnings for the first half of the year make us very optimistic,
especially considering the difficult environment in which the result
was achieved. The markets remain volatile and this limits visibility
for the rest of the financial year. Also, the crop yields from the
campaigns now in progress will be lower than in 2011. We therefore
estimate that, on balance for the full year 2012|13, we will generate
earnings at about the level of the prior year. This year and next, we
are investing on a scale well in excess of depreciation, with a
particular focus on projects to improve energy efficiency."

Sugar segment

H1 12|13 H1 11|12 Q2 12|13 Q2 11|12
Revenue EUR 634.0 m EUR 435.9 m EUR 327.2 m EUR 253.9 m
Operating profit before
exceptional items EUR 71.2 m EUR 50.6 m EUR 36.6 m EUR 29.0 m
Operating margin 11.2% 11.6% 11.2% 11.4 %

Sugar segment revenue in the first six months grew vigorously, buoyed
by higher prices and sales volumes. Sales to resellers were
especially strong, and so were sales of non-quota sugar into the
sugar-using industry and the world market. Despite increased raw
material costs, earnings rose by about 45%. Thanks to the high grain
prices, very good contribution margins were achieved with co-products
(such as dried beet pulp and molasses).

Starch segment

H1 12|13 H1 11|12 Q2 12|13 Q2 11|12
Revenue EUR 395.7 m EUR 387.7 m EUR 203.3 m EUR 194.4 m
Operating profit before
exceptional items EUR 46.5 m EUR 36.2 m EUR 22.5 m EUR 13.7 m
Operating margin 11.8% 9.3% 11.1% 7.0%

The slight revenue growth in the first half of 2012|13 reflected
higher selling prices for saccharification products - particularly
isoglucose - and stronger sales volumes of core and by-products. The
further improvement in earnings was made possible primarily by the
increased prices obtained for saccharification products. Added to
this were regional raw material advantages at HUNGRANA, the joint
venture in Hungary. As a result, the segment operating margin was
boosted from 9.3% to 11.8%.

Fruit segment

H1 12|13 H1 11|12 Q2 12|13 Q2 11|12
Revenue EUR 573.4 m EUR 461.1 m EUR 298,0 m EUR 223.6 m
Operating profit before
exceptional items EUR 24.8 m EUR 31.4 m EUR 12.5 m EUR 13.8 m
Operating margin 4.3% 6.8% 4.2% 6.2%

Revenue in the Fruit segment grew by 24.4% in the first half of the year. Sales
volumes of fruit preparations were expanded substantially from the year-earlier
level. Selling prices were elevated compared to the prior year, reflecting the
rise in raw material costs. In the fruit juice concentrates business, the
principal trend was one of volume-driven revenue growth, partially resulting
from the first-time, full consolidation of Ybbstaler Fruit Austria GmbH. A key
reason for the earnings decrease lay in temporary margin effects in the fruit
juice concentrate activities. However, compared with the fourth quarter of
2011|12, the whole segment now shows an improvement in the margin situation.

Outlook

For the full year 2012|13, AGRANA expects Group revenue to increase
to more than EUR 3.0 billion on overall slight volume growth and
continuing high price levels. After the strong earnings in the first
half of the year, the next two quarters are expected to see
pronounced volatility in raw material and selling prices. This in
combination with reduced crop yields is predicted to lead to lower
earnings in the second half of 2012|13. For the year as a whole,
AGRANA should be able to reach an operating profit approximately in
line with that of last year.

This press release is available on AGRANA's website at
www.agrana.com, in English and German.

Further inquiry note:
AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG
Mag.(FH) Hannes Haider
Investor Relations
Tel.: +43-1-211 37-12905
e-mail:hannes.haider@agrana.com

Mag.(FH) Christine Göller
Public Relations
Tel.: +43-1-211 37-12084
e-mail: christine.goeller@agrana.com

end of announcement euro adhoc
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company: AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG
Donau-City-Straße 9
A-1220 Wien
phone: +43-1-21137-0
FAX: +43-1-21137-12045
mail: info.ab@agrana.com
WWW: www.agrana.com
sector: Food
ISIN: AT0000603709
indexes: WBI, ATX Prime
stockmarkets: Präsenzhandel: Berlin, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, official market: Wien
language: English