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

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  Corporate news transmitted by euro adhoc. The issuer/originator is solely
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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

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