Press release

EANS-Adhoc: AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG / Preliminary Results for the 2008|09 Financial Year

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  ad-hoc disclosure transmitted by euro adhoc with the aim of a Europe-wide
  distribution. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this
  announcement.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Company Information

06.05.2009

Based on preliminary data, in the 2008|09 financial year AGRANA, the international sugar, starch and fruit group, achieved revenue growth of 7.1% to EUR 2,026.3 million (prior year: EUR 1,892.3 million). The revenue expansion was driven by growth in the Starch segment, through capacity expansion in bioethanol production in Hungary and the commissioning of a new bioethanol plant in Austria.

Operating profit before exceptional items declined to EUR 37.8 million (from 111.4 million in the prior year). The factors behind the contraction were write- downs required on apple juice concentrate in the first half of 2008|09, the expense for restructuring payments in the course of the European sugar market reform, the strong increase in energy costs from one year earlier, and disturbances in agricultural raw materials markets.

The result before tax fell to a loss of EUR 32.4 million (previous year: profit of EUR 73.1 million). The principal reason for this was a significant deterioration in net financial items to a net expense of EUR 67.1 million (prior year: net financial items expense of EUR 28.4 million), as the sharply declining exchange rates in some Eastern European countries during the fourth quarter of 2008|09 led to unrealised losses. The Group registered a loss for the year of EUR 15.9 million after tax (prior year: profit for the year of EUR 63.8 million after tax).

Preliminary financial results for the year ended 28 February 2009
                                                 2008|09     2007|08
Revenue                                  EURm    2,026.3     1,892.3
Operating profit before exceptional      EURm       37.8       111.4
items
Net exceptional items                    EURm      (3.2)       (9.9)
Operating profit after exceptional items EURm       34.6       101.5
(Loss)/profit before tax                 EURm     (32.4)        73.1
Net financial items                      EURm     (67.1)      (28.4)
(Loss)/profit for the year               EURm     (15.9)        63.8
- Attributable to equity holders of AGRANA        (11.6)        64.3
Beteiligungs-AG                                    (4.3)       (0.5)
- Minority interests
(Loss)/profit per share                  EUR      (0.82)        4.53

In the financial year the Fruit segment generated 39.7% of Group revenue, followed by Sugar at 34.7% and Starch at 25.6%.

The final results for the 2008|09 financial year will be published on 20 May 2009.

end of announcement                               euro adhoc
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Further inquiry note:

Investor Relations
Mag. Maria Fally
+43 1 21137 12905
maria.fally@agrana.com

Public Relations
Mag. Ulrike Pichler
+43 1 21137 12084
ulrike.pichler@agrana.com

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

Permalink:

https://www.presseportal.de/en/pm/63352/1399785