EANS-News: AGRANA reiterates earnings forecast for full 2018|19 financial year

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Profit in first half of 2018|19 significantly below prior year as sugar and
bioethanol businesses weigh on results

Mid Year Results

Vienna - AGRANA, the manufacturer of fruit products, starch and sugar,
registered a significant earnings reduction in the first half of the 2018|19
financial year. Operating profit (EBIT), at EUR 63.0 million, was off 51.8% from
the year-earlier level. The Group's revenue eased by 7.4% to EUR 1,261.0 million
(H1 prior year: EUR 1,362.1 million). AGRANA Chief Executive Officer Johann
Marihart says: "Extremely low prices in the sugar and isoglucose businesses
after the EU quota expiration, as well as significantly lower ethanol prices
than a year ago, led to a significant slump in EBIT earnings. The Fruit segment
on the other hand delivered a satisfactory performance, with EBIT moderately
above that of the good prior year."

AGRANA Group consolidated financial results
EUR million, except %

H1 2018|19 H1 2017|18
Revenue 1,261.0 1,362.1
EBITDA* 97.0 149.6
Operating profit before exceptional items** 57.2 113.4
Share of results of equity-accounted joint ventures 6.6 20.0
Exceptional items (0.8) (2.8)
Operating profit (EBIT) 63.0 130.6
Net financial items 5.0% (8.9)
Profit for the period 39.9 97.3
Investment*** 82.7 58.1

Q2 2018|19 Q2 2017|18
Revenue 630.7 677.9
EBITDA* 43.5 72.0
Operating profit before exceptional items** 23.4 53.7
Share of results of equity-accounted joint ventures 3.3 9.9
Exceptional items (0.7) (2.8)
Operating profit (EBIT) 26.0 60.8
EBIT margin 4.1% 9.0%
Profit for the period 14.6 46.4
Investment*** 50.4 36.6

* EBITDA represents operating profit before exceptional items, results of
equity-accounted joint ventures, and operating depreciation and amortisation
** Operating profit before exceptional items and results of equity-accounted
joint ventures
*** Investment represents purchases of property, plant and equipment and
intangible assets, excluding goodwill

Net financial items amounted to an expense of EUR 10.9 million (H1 prior year:
expense of EUR 8.9 million). After an income tax expense of EUR 12.2 million,
corresponding to a tax rate of approximately 23.4% (H1 prior year: 20.0%),
profit for the period was EUR 39.9 million (H1 prior year: EUR 97.3 million).

Net debt as of 31 August 2018 stood at EUR 261.3 million, up EUR 28.8 million
from the 2017|18 year-end level. The gearing ratio accordingly rose modestly to
18.7% as of the quarterly balance sheet date (28 February 2018: 16.0%).

Fruit segment
EUR million, except %

H1 2018|19 H1 2017|18
Revenue 611.6 599.9
Operating profit (EBIT) 46.8 43.5
EBIT margin 7.7% 7.3%

Q2 2018|19 Q2 2017|18
Revenue 299.8 288.9
Operating profit (EBIT) 21.3 18.4
EBIT margin 7.1% 6.4%

Revenue in the Fruit segment in the first half of 2018|19 was EUR 611.6 million,
a slight increase from the year-earlier level driven especially by higher
revenue in the fruit juice concentrate business as a result of the high apple
juice concentrate prices for product made from the 2017 crop.
EBIT of EUR 46.8 million in the first six months was up moderately from one year
earlier. While the fruit preparations business saw a currency-related slight
drop in earnings, EBIT in the fruit juice concentrate activities increased
significantly thanks to the better contribution margins of apple juice
concentrate produced from the 2017 harvest.

Starch segment
EUR million, except %

H1 2018|19 H1 2017|18
Revenue 372.0 385.5
Operating profit (EBIT) 20.3 50.5
EBIT margin 5.5% 13.1%

Q2 2018|19 Q2 2017|18
Revenue 190.6 190.7
Operating profit (EBIT) 10.4 23.9
EBIT margin 5.5% 12.5%

Starch segment revenue in the first half of 2018|19 eased by 3.5% year-on-year.
The revenue reduction was due primarily to bioethanol prices that were
significantly lower than in the year-ago period, and to the isoglucose prices.
Revenue with saccharification products decreased, pulled downward by the very
low prices of granulated sugar. The revenue trend for native and modified
starches was positive amid sustained good market demand. EBIT, at EUR 20.3
million, was down significantly by 59.8% from the very good year-earlier result.

Sugar segment
EUR million, except %

H1 2018|19 H1 2017|18
Revenue 277.4 376.7
Operating profit (EBIT) (4.1) 36.6
EBIT margin (1.5%) 9.7%

Q2 2018|19 Q2 2017|18
Revenue 140.3 198.3
Operating profit (EBIT) (5.8) 18.5
EBIT margin (4.1%) 9.3%

Sugar segment revenue in the first half of 2018|19 declined by 26.4% year-on-
year. This was caused by a significant year-on-year reduction in sugar sales
prices, as well as by lower sugar quantities sold (the latter especially in
exports and the non-food sector). EBIT in the first half of 2018|19 fell
markedly from EUR 36.6 million to a deficit of EUR 4.1 million.

Outlook
As a result of the persistent challenges faced, especially in the Sugar segment,
AGRANA continues to predict a significant reduction in Group operating profit
(EBIT) for the full 2018|19 financial year. Revenue is projected to be slightly
lower than in the year before. EBIT in the third quarter of the current 2018|19
financial year is also expected to come in below the level of the prior year's
comparative quarter.

Total investment across the three business segments in the financial year, now
projected at approximately EUR 185 million, will significantly exceed the
budgeted depreciation of about EUR 95 million.

About AGRANA
AGRANA converts agricultural raw materials into high-quality foods and numerous
industrial intermediate products. About 8,700 employees at 59 production sites
worldwide generate annual Group revenue of approximately EUR 2.6 billion.
Established in 1988, the company is the world market leader in fruit
preparations and the leading producer of fruit juice concentrates in Europe. As
well, its Starch segment is a major manufacturer of custom starch products and
bioethanol. AGRANA today is also the leading sugar producer in Central and
Eastern Europe.

This announcement is available in German and English at https://www.agrana.com/
en [https://www.agrana.com/en].

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
Public Relations
Tel.: +43-1-211 37-12084
e-mail: markus.simak@agrana.com

end of announcement euro adhoc
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issuer: 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
ISIN: AT0000603709
indexes: WBI
stockmarkets: Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Berlin, Wien
language: English

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