EANS-News: AGRANA Group revenue surpasses EUR 3 billion for the first time Steady dividend proposal of EUR 3.60 per share

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Financial Figures/Balance Sheet/annual result

Wien (euro adhoc) - -Revenue growth of 18.9% to EUR 3,065.9 million,
driven by all segments -Operating profit up 1.9% to EUR 236.9 million
before exceptional items -Exceptional items expense of EUR 19.1
million in Fruit segment weighs on EBIT -Equity ratio of 47.0% (prior
year: 45.4%)

-Outlook: *Modest revenue growth expected for 2013|14
*Pre-exceptionals operating profit expected to be lower than 2012|13

In the 2012|13 financial year the AGRANA Group boosted its revenue
for the third year in succession. With growth of 18.9%, revenue for
the first time surpassed three billion euros, reaching EUR 3,065.9
million. Operating profit before exceptional items also rose to a new
record of EUR 236.9 million (up 1.9%), while the operating margin
eased to 7.7% (from 9.0% in the prior year) on the disproportionate
revenue growth. Higher sales volumes in all three segments and
stronger selling prices for quota sugar were key drivers of the
continuing high profitability. In the Fruit segment, reorganisation
measures in Europe and provisions for irregularities discovered at a
Mexican subsidiary made a negative difference of EUR 19.1 million in
operating profit after exceptional items.

A modest increase in the net financial items expense to EUR 27.7
million (prior year: EUR 24.7 million) was mainly the result of
interest expense (which rose by EUR 1.9 million) for the financing of
the higher working capital. The currency translation loss of EUR 0.7
million was nearly unchanged from the prior year's (EUR 0.8 million).
Profit before tax eased somewhat from EUR 206.3 million in the prior
year to EUR 190.2 million. After an income tax expense of EUR 33.7
million based on a tax rate of 17.7% (prior year: 24.5%), the Group's
profit for the period was EUR 156.5 million (prior year: EUR 155.7
million). Profit for the period attributable to shareholders of
AGRANA amounted to EUR 149.4 million (prior year: EUR 152.4 million);
earnings per share were EUR 10.52 (prior year: EUR 10.73).

With total assets up by almost 9% from the prior year-end, AGRANA's
equity ratio improved from 45.4% to 47.0%. Net debt at the balance
sheet date of 28 February 2013 was EUR 483.7 million, or just above
the year-earlier level (EUR 469.2 million), but the debt-equity
gearing of 39.9% was lower - and thus better - than a year ago
(43.7%).

_____________________________________________________________________
________ |AGRANA Group | Q4 2012|13 | Q4 2011|12| FY
2012|13| FY |2011|12 | |results (IFRS) ______________________________
_______________________________________________| |
| | | | |Revenue |EUR
676.6 m | EUR 625.4 m| EUR 3,065.9 m |EUR 2,577.6 m | |_____________
______|____________|_____________|_______________|_____________| |

|Operating Profit | EUR 32.6 m| EUR 33.7 m| EUR 236,9 m| EUR 232,4 m|
|before exceptional | | | |
|items______________|____________|_____________|_______________|_____________|
|
|Operating Margin___|_______4,8% |________5,4% |__________7,7% |________9,0 %|
|
|Profit before tax__|___EUR 8.4 m|___EUR 39.6 m|____EUR 190.2 m|__EUR 206,3 m|
|
|Profit for the | EUR 17.9 m | EUR 26.0 m| EUR 156.5 m| EUR 155.7 m|
|period_____________|____________|_____________|_______________|_____________|
|
|Earnings per share_|____EUR 1.08|_____EUR 1.83|_____EUR 10.52 |____EUR 10.73|

|Purchases of | | | |
|property, plant | | | |
|and equipment | EUR 51.1 m | EUR 34.4 m| EUR 149.8 Mio.| EUR 97.1 m
|intangibles 1)_____|____________|______________|_______________|____________|

|Staff count | | | 8.449| 7.982|
|(average)_________|____________|______________|_______________|_____________|

1) Excluding goodwill

AGRANA Chief Executive Officer Johann Marihart says: "In an adverse
environment, we again topped the prior year's revenue and
pre-exceptionals operating profit. We also successfully cushioned
short-term volatility in raw material markets through effective
hedging. The earnings result further strengthens our confidence in
our sustainable business strategy. Consequently, the Management Board
will propose to the Annual General Meeting a constant dividend of EUR
3.60 per share."

Sugar segment

______________________________________________________________________________
|_____________|_____Q4_2012|13|_____Q4_2011|12|_____FY_2012|13|____FY_2011|12|
|
|Revenue______|____EUR 195.0 m|____EUR 193.0 m|__EUR 1,121.5 m|___EUR 884.4 m|
|

|Operating | | | |
|profit before| EUR 13.8 m| EUR 18.0 m| EUR 119.1 m| EUR
112.3 m| |exceptional | | |
| |items________|_______________|_______________|_______________|____
__________| | |Operating | 7.1%| 9.3%|
10.6%| 12.7%| |margin_______|_______________|_______________|
_______________|______________|

Revenue in the Sugar segment grew by 26.8% in the 2012|13 financial
year, to EUR 1,121.5 million (prior year: EUR 884.4 million).
Operating profit of EUR 119.1 million before exceptional items was
above the prior year's result of EUR 112.3 million. The positive
trend in the Sugar segment was made possible by sufficient quantities
of non-quota sugar, agility in responding to changing market
conditions, the favourable price trend for quota sugar and a good
performance in by-products (dried beet pulp and molasses).

Starch segment

|_____________|_____Q4_2012|13|_____Q4_2011|12|_____FY_2012|13|____FY_2011|12|
|
|Revenue______|____EUR 200.6 m|____EUR 176.8 m|__EUR 804.3 m|___EUR 764.3 m|
|

|Operating | | | |
|profit before| EUR 11.8 m| EUR 13.7 m| EUR 72.6 m|
EUR 81.9 m| |exceptional | | |
| |items________|_______________|_______________|_______________|____
__________| | |Operating | 5.9%| 7.7%|
9.0%| 10.7%| |margin_______|_______________|_______________|_
______________|______________|

Starch segment revenue grew by 5.2% in 2012|13, to EUR 804.3 million
(prior year: EUR 764.3 million). The increase was driven by higher
sales quantities, as well as better selling prices in
saccharification products. Operating profit of EUR 72.6 million
before exceptional items was EUR 9.3 million less than the record
result of the prior year. Amid drought-related rising raw material
costs in the second half, the high profitability of the first six
months could not be maintained for the full year.

Fruit segment

______________________________________________________________________________
|_____________|_____Q4_2012|13|_____Q4_2011|12|_____FY_2012|13|____FY_2011|12|
|
|Revenue______|____EUR 281.0 m|____EUR 255.5 m|__EUR 1,140.1 m|___EUR 928.9 m|
|

|Operating | | | |
|profit before| EUR 7.0 m| EUR 2.0 m| EUR 45.2 m|
EUR 38.2 m| |exceptional | | |
| |items________|_______________|_______________|_______________|____
__________| | |Operating | 2.5%| 0.8%|
4.0%| 4.1%| |margin_______|_______________|_______________|_
______________|______________|

Revenue in the Fruit segment rose by EUR 211.7 million or 22.7% in
2012|13, to EUR 1,140.1 million (prior year: EUR 928.9 million).
Operating profit before exceptional items, at EUR 45.2 million,
significantly exceeded the previous year's figure of EUR 38.2
million. Selling prices for fruit preparations were advantageous
compared to the prior year and reflected the rise in raw material
costsThe production volume of fruit juice concentrates was expanded
by about 75%. The volume-driven revenue growth in this part of the
business resulted partly from the first-time full consolidation of
Ybbstaler Fruit Austria GmbH from 1 June 2012.

Outlook

With a sound balance sheet structure at 28 February 2013 and a
diversified business model, AGRANA considers itself well positioned
for the current new financial year. "At present, we believe 2013|14
will bring a slight increase in Group revenue, driven primarily by
volume growth. For operating profit before exceptional items, we
expect a value below the outstanding results of the past two years,"
comments CEO Marihart.

As in 2012|13, capital expenditure this financial year is to remain
strong and will significantly exceed depreciation. The total
investment of about EUR 143 million in 2013|14 will continue to
provide solid support for the Group's lasting growth.

This press release and the annual report 2012|13 are available in
German and English at www.agrana.com.

Further inquiry note:
AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG

Mag.(FH) Markus Simak
Public Relations
Tel.: +43-1-211 37-12084
e-mail: markus.simak@agrana.com

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

end of announcement euro adhoc
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company: AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG
F.-W.-Raiffeisen-Platz 1
A-1020 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