EANS-News: AGRANA Group revenue surpasses EUR 3 billion for the first time Steady dividend proposal of EUR 3.60 per share
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Corporate news transmitted by euro adhoc. The issuer/originator is solely
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Financial Figures/Balance Sheet/annual result
Wien (euro adhoc) - -Revenue growth of 18.9% to EUR 3,065.9 million, driven by
all segments
-Operating profit up 1.9% to EUR 236.9 million before exceptional items
-Exceptional items expense of EUR 19.1 million in Fruit segment weighs on EBIT
-Equity ratio of 47.0% (prior year: 45.4%)
-Outlook: *Modest revenue growth expected for 2013|14
*Pre-exceptionals operating profit expected to be lower than 2012|13
In the 2012|13 financial year the AGRANA Group boosted its revenue for the third
year in succession. With growth of 18.9%, revenue for the first time surpassed
three billion euros, reaching EUR 3,065.9 million. Operating profit before
exceptional items also rose to a new record of EUR 236.9 million (up 1.9%),
while the operating margin eased to 7.7% (from 9.0% in the prior year) on the
disproportionate revenue growth. Higher sales volumes in all three segments and
stronger selling prices for quota sugar were key drivers of the continuing high
profitability. In the Fruit segment, reorganisation measures in Europe and
provisions for irregularities discovered at a Mexican subsidiary made a negative
difference of EUR 19.1 million in operating profit after exceptional items.
A modest increase in the net financial items expense to EUR 27.7 million (prior
year: EUR 24.7 million) was mainly the result of interest expense (which rose by
EUR 1.9 million) for the financing of the higher working capital. The currency
translation loss of EUR 0.7 million was nearly unchanged from the prior year's
(EUR 0.8 million). Profit before tax eased somewhat from EUR 206.3 million in
the prior year to EUR 190.2 million. After an income tax expense of EUR 33.7
million based on a tax rate of 17.7% (prior year: 24.5%), the Group's profit for
the period was EUR 156.5 million (prior year: EUR 155.7 million). Profit for the
period attributable to shareholders of AGRANA amounted to EUR 149.4 million
(prior year: EUR 152.4 million); earnings per share were EUR 10.52 (prior year:
EUR 10.73).
With total assets up by almost 9% from the prior year-end, AGRANA's equity ratio
improved from 45.4% to 47.0%. Net debt at the balance sheet date of 28 February
2013 was EUR 483.7 million, or just above the year-earlier level (EUR 469.2
million), but the debt-equity gearing of 39.9% was lower - and thus better -
than a year ago (43.7%).
_____________________________________________________________________________
|AGRANA Group | Q4 2012|13 | Q4 2011|12| FY 2012|13| FY |2011|12 |
|results (IFRS)
_____________________________________________________________________________|
| | | | |
|Revenue |EUR 676.6 m | EUR 625.4 m| EUR 3,065.9 m |EUR 2,577.6 m |
|___________________|____________|_____________|_______________|_____________|
|
|Operating Profit | EUR 32.6 m| EUR 33.7 m| EUR 236,9 m| EUR 232,4 m|
|before exceptional | | | |
|items______________|____________|_____________|_______________|_____________|
|
|Operating Margin___|_______4,8% |________5,4% |__________7,7% |________9,0 %|
|
|Profit before tax__|___EUR 8.4 m|___EUR 39.6 m|____EUR 190.2 m|__EUR 206,3 m|
|
|Profit for the | EUR 17.9 m | EUR 26.0 m| EUR 156.5 m| EUR 155.7 m|
|period_____________|____________|_____________|_______________|_____________|
|
|Earnings per share_|____EUR 1.08|_____EUR 1.83|_____EUR 10.52 |____EUR 10.73|
|Purchases of | | | |
|property, plant | | | |
|and equipment | EUR 51.1 m | EUR 34.4 m| EUR 149.8 Mio.| EUR 97.1 m
|intangibles 1)_____|____________|______________|_______________|____________|
|Staff count | | | 8.449| 7.982|
|(average)_________|____________|______________|_______________|_____________|
1) Excluding goodwill
AGRANA Chief Executive Officer Johann Marihart says: "In an adverse environment,
we again topped the prior year's revenue and pre-exceptionals operating profit.
We also successfully cushioned short-term volatility in raw material markets
through effective hedging. The earnings result further strengthens our
confidence in our sustainable business strategy. Consequently, the Management
Board will propose to the Annual General Meeting a constant dividend of EUR 3.60
per share."
Sugar segment
______________________________________________________________________________
|_____________|_____Q4_2012|13|_____Q4_2011|12|_____FY_2012|13|____FY_2011|12|
|
|Revenue______|____EUR 195.0 m|____EUR 193.0 m|__EUR 1,121.5 m|___EUR 884.4 m|
|
|Operating | | | |
|profit before| EUR 13.8 m| EUR 18.0 m| EUR 119.1 m| EUR 112.3 m|
|exceptional | | | |
|items________|_______________|_______________|_______________|______________|
|
|Operating | 7.1%| 9.3%| 10.6%| 12.7%|
|margin_______|_______________|_______________|_______________|______________|
Revenue in the Sugar segment grew by 26.8% in the 2012|13 financial year, to
EUR 1,121.5 million (prior year: EUR 884.4 million). Operating profit of EUR
119.1 million before exceptional items was above the prior year's result of EUR
112.3 million. The positive trend in the Sugar segment was made possible by
sufficient quantities of non-quota sugar, agility in responding to changing
market conditions, the favourable price trend for quota sugar and a good
performance in by-products (dried beet pulp and molasses).
Starch segment
|_____________|_____Q4_2012|13|_____Q4_2011|12|_____FY_2012|13|____FY_2011|12|
|
|Revenue______|____EUR 200.6 m|____EUR 176.8 m|__EUR 804.3 m|___EUR 764.3 m|
|
|Operating | | | |
|profit before| EUR 11.8 m| EUR 13.7 m| EUR 72.6 m| EUR 81.9 m|
|exceptional | | | |
|items________|_______________|_______________|_______________|______________|
|
|Operating | 5.9%| 7.7%| 9.0%| 10.7%|
|margin_______|_______________|_______________|_______________|______________|
Starch segment revenue grew by 5.2% in 2012|13, to EUR 804.3 million (prior
year: EUR 764.3 million). The increase was driven by higher sales quantities, as
well as better selling prices in saccharification products. Operating profit of
EUR 72.6 million before exceptional items was EUR 9.3 million less than the
record result of the prior year. Amid drought-related rising raw material costs
in the second half, the high profitability of the first six months could not be
maintained for the full year.
Fruit segment
______________________________________________________________________________
|_____________|_____Q4_2012|13|_____Q4_2011|12|_____FY_2012|13|____FY_2011|12|
|
|Revenue______|____EUR 281.0 m|____EUR 255.5 m|__EUR 1,140.1 m|___EUR 928.9 m|
|
|Operating | | | |
|profit before| EUR 7.0 m| EUR 2.0 m| EUR 45.2 m| EUR 38.2 m|
|exceptional | | | |
|items________|_______________|_______________|_______________|______________|
|
|Operating | 2.5%| 0.8%| 4.0%| 4.1%|
|margin_______|_______________|_______________|_______________|______________|
Revenue in the Fruit segment rose by EUR 211.7 million or 22.7% in 2012|13, to
EUR 1,140.1 million (prior year: EUR 928.9 million). Operating profit before
exceptional items, at EUR 45.2 million, significantly exceeded the previous
year's figure of EUR 38.2 million. Selling prices for fruit preparations were
advantageous compared to the prior year and reflected the rise in raw material
costsThe production volume of fruit juice concentrates was expanded by about
75%. The volume-driven revenue growth in this part of the business resulted
partly from the first-time full consolidation of Ybbstaler Fruit Austria GmbH
from 1 June 2012.
Outlook
With a sound balance sheet structure at 28 February 2013 and a diversified
business model, AGRANA considers itself well positioned for the current new
financial year. "At present, we believe 2013|14 will bring a slight increase in
Group revenue, driven primarily by volume growth. For operating profit before
exceptional items, we expect a value below the outstanding results of the past
two years," comments CEO Marihart.
As in 2012|13, capital expenditure this financial year is to remain strong and
will significantly exceed depreciation. The total investment of about EUR 143
million in 2013|14 will continue to provide solid support for the Group's
lasting growth.
This press release and the annual report 2012|13 are available in German and
English at www.agrana.com.
Further inquiry note:
AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG
Mag.(FH) Markus Simak
Public Relations
Tel.: +43-1-211 37-12084
e-mail: markus.simak@agrana.com
Mag.(FH) Hannes Haider
Investor Relations
Tel.: +43-1-211 37-12905
e-mail:hannes.haider@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: +43-1-21137-12045
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