EANS-News: AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG
AGRANA's first half of 2012|13: Good
performance in a volatile environment
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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
Original content of: AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG, transmitted by news aktuell