Alle Storys
Folgen
Keine Story von AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG mehr verpassen.

AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG

EANS-News: AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG
Results in first nine months of 2010|11 - Robust upward trend continues

Wien (euro adhoc) -

  Corporate news transmitted by euro adhoc. The issuer/originator is solely
  responsible for the content of this announcement.
Financial Figures/Balance Sheet/quarterly report/9-month report
With a strong third quarter, AGRANA, the sugar,
starch and fruit group, continued its positive  performance of the 
current financial year. Revenue in the first three quarters (ended 30
November 2010) grew by 5.8% from one year earlier, to EUR 1,624.4 
million. In each of the three business segments, the revenue growth 
reflected the combined net effect of higher volumes and somewhat 
lower average prices. AGRANA recorded operating profit of 
EUR 104.8 million before exceptional items, an increase of 32.8% from
the prior year´s first three quarters that was driven by all three 
segments. The - anticipated - rise in raw material costs in the 
Starch and Fruit segments during the third quarter was to some degree
already successfully offset by sales price increases, which kept the 
strain on margins milder than expected. As well, the optimisation 
measures initiated in the prior financial year made a positive 
difference in operating profit before exceptional items.
After a net finance expense of EUR 20.2 million (the lower net 
finance expense of EUR 4.9 million in the prior-year comparative 
period was attributable to currency translation gains) and an income 
tax expense of EUR 19.5 million (at a tax rate of 23%), the Group´s 
profit for the period was EUR 65.0 million (Q1-Q3 2009|10: EUR 57.8 
million). Earnings per share attributable to AGRANA shareholders grew
from EUR 4.04 to EUR 4.43.
At 30 November 2010, net debt was EUR 389.4 million. The gearing 
ratio (net debt to total equity) of 41.4% was just below the prior 
year-end level of 41.6%. The equity ratio on 30 November 2010 
measured 44.6%.
AGRANA Group results (IFRS)
In EUR (except margin and staff Q3 10|11   Q3 09|10  Q1-Q3 10|11 Q1-Q3 09|10
count)
Revenue                         551.0 m    501.6 m   1,624.4 m   1,535.8 m
Operating profit before          40.0 m     35.0 m     104.8 m      78.9 m
exceptional items
Operating margin                  7.3%       7.0%        6.5%        5.1%
Profit before tax                35.8 m     27.6 m      84.5 m      74.0 m
Profit for the period            27.7 m     23.0 m      65.0 m      57.8 m
Earnings per share                1.85       1.58        4.43        4.04 
Purchases of property, plant      8.8 m      9.2 m      28.0 m      25.5 m
and equipment and intangibles
(other than goodwill)
Staff count                                              8,558      8,117
AGRANA Chief Executive Officer Johann Marihart says: "We are very 
pleased with our business performance for the financial year to date.
For the full year 2010|11 we expect revenue to increase from the 
prior year to more than EUR 2 billion and, in view of the good third 
quarter, both our operating profit before exceptional items and our 
operating margin should rise significantly in all three segments."
Sugar segment
In EUR (except operating     Q3 10|11   Q3 09|10   Q1-Q3 10|11  Q1-Q3 09|10
margin)
Revenue                      193.9 m    176.3 m    560.1 m      547.7 m
Operating profit before       13.7 m      6.1 m     26.0 m       19.2 m
exceptional items
Operating margin               7.3%       3.5%       4.6%         3.5%
In the Sugar segment the price-related reduction in quota sugar revenue was
more than offset by significantly increased non-quota sugar exports. 
The expansion in pre-exceptionals operating profit especially in the 
strong third quarter was made possible by improved market conditions 
and cost savings.
Starch segment
In EUR (except operating     Q3 10|11   Q3 09|10   Q1-Q3 10|11  Q1-Q3 09|10
margin)
Revenue                      152.0 m    128.6 m    424.6 m      380.4 m
Operating profit before       12.7 m     13.9 m     43.5 m       34.3 m
exceptional items
Operating margin               8.4%      10.8%      10.2%         9.0%
The revenue trend in the Starch segment was positive as a result of higher
sales volumes. Economies of scale associated with the revenue growth, together
with an effective purchasing strategy, were the main drivers of the 
improvement in operating margin.
Fruit segment
In EUR (except operating     Q3 10|11   Q3 09|10   Q1-Q3 10|11   Q1-Q3 09|10
margin)
Revenue                      205.2 m    196.7 m    639.7 m       607.7 m
Operating profit before       13.7 m     14.9 m     35.4 m        25.4 m
exceptional items
Operating margin               6.7%       7.6%       5.5%          4.2%
AGRANA´s revenue also increased in the Fruit segment, as sales 
volumes grew both in fruit preparations and fruit juice concentrates.
The key reasons for the rise in operating margin were the economies 
of scale from volume growth, and the numerous organisational and cost
improvement measures.  The higher raw material prices did not make 
themselves felt until near the end of the reporting period.
Outlook For the full year 2010|11, AGRANA expects revenue to grow 
from the prior year in all three business segments. Notable increases
in raw material prices were already evident towards the end of the 
first half of 2010|11. Although (as the Group had anticipated) this 
led to margin pressure, the brisk market demand allowed the margin 
effect to be moderated by adjusting sales prices. Buoyed by the good 
third quarter, a significant increase in operating profit and 
operating margin in all segments is now likely for the full financial
year.
This press release is available on the internet at www.agrana.com.
end of announcement                               euro adhoc

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. Ulrike Middelhoff
Public Relations
Tel.: +43-1-211 37-12084
e-mail:ulrike.middelhoff@agrana.com

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

Weitere Storys: AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG
Weitere Storys: AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG