EANS-News: AGRANA acquires Argentinian fruit preparations producer MAIN PROCESS S.A.

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Mergers - Acquisitions - Takeovers/Company Information

The fruit, starch and fruit processor AGRANA has consolidated its
presence in the South American market through the acquisition of 100%
of the shares in Main Process S.A., a producer of fruit preparations.
Located in north-eastern Argentina, this company with a workforce of
around 175 generated revenues of approximately EUR 19 million in its
2015 financial year.

In addition to standard fruit preparations for yoghurts and ice
creams, Main Process S.A. also specialises in the production of
syrups for beverages and fillings for bakery products. Latin America
is a strong growth market, particularly with regard to fruit
preparations used in beverages and smoothies as well as for non-fruit
solutions such as chocolate toppings and caramel syrups. Besides its
core business for industrial customers (dairies and bakeries),
additional sales potential also exists in the quick-service
restaurant (e.g. fast food) and food service sectors (e.g. hotels and
catering).

"The acquisition of Main Process represents another step in the
direction of sustainably consolidating our leadership in the global
fruit preparations market. The broad product range of Main Process in
both the dairy and non-dairy segments meshes ideally with our
diversified product portfolio"AGRANA CEO Johann Marihart emphasised.

Fruit preparations at AGRANA Fruit preparations contain top quality
fruit which is prepared either as a liquid or in pieces in order for
these to be used mainly in dairy products but also in the ice cream
and bakery industries. These products are individually designed and
produced by AGRANA on the basis of close development-related
collaboration with customers. AGRANA's product development work also
reflects global nutritional and health trends in the area of organic,
natural products and clean labels. For example, current focus areas
include food stabilisers not subject to mandatory declaration
(so-called 'E numbers') for fruit preparations and production
processes which minimise the impact of fruit commodity processing.
The aim is to optimally maintain the natural properties of the fruit.

AGRANA currently operates seven production facilities for fruit
preparations on the American continent, four in the USA and one in
each of Argentina, Brazil and Mexico. Globally, AGRANA produces fruit
preparations at a total of 24 sites.

About AGRANA AGRANA adds value to agricultural commodities to produce
top quality foodstuffs and numerous industrial upstream products.
Around 8,600 personnel working at over 50 production facilities
worldwide generate consolidated revenues of around EUR 2.5 billion.
The Company was founded in 1988 and is today the leading sugar
company in Central and Eastern Europe as well as being a key
producer, in the Starch segment, of special products in Europe and
the largest manufacturer of bioethanol in Austria. AGRANA is also the
global leader in fruit preparations and the largest European producer
of fruit juice concentrates.

This press release is available in German and English at
www.agrana.com.

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) Markus Simak
Pressesprecher
Tel.: +43-1-211 37-12084
e-mail: markus.simak@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: +43-1-21137-12926
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

Original-Content von: AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG, übermittelt durch news aktuell