EANS-Adhoc: AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG / AGRANA growth continues in first quarter of 2010|11

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3-month report

14.07.2010

6.8% revenue growth through volume gains in all segments

Operating profit before exceptional items up 71.0% from EUR 20.0
million to EUR 34.3 million

Increase in operating margin from 4.0% to 6.3%

Equity ratio of 51.2%

Slight growth in revenue expected for full year 2010|11

Improvement in pre-exceptionals operating profit projected for
2010|11

Q1 Q1
2010|11 2009|10
Revenue EUR 540.5m EUR 506.2m
Operating profit before exceptional EUR 34.3m EUR 20.0m
items
Operating margin 6.3% 4.0%
Operating profit after exceptional items EUR 34.3m EUR 20.0m
Purchases of property, plant and EUR 7.6m EUR 6.8m
equipment and intangibles (excluding
goodwill)
Staff count 8,116 7,989

Despite easing prices, AGRANA was able to boost Group revenue to EUR
540.5 million through sales volume growth in all three segments.

Segment results:

SUGAR SEGMENT Revenue: Q1 2010|11: EUR 181.2 million (Q1 2009|10: EUR
175.5 million) EBIT: Q1 2010|11: EUR 6.1 million (Q1 2009|10: EUR 3.9
million) Driven by the higher sales quantities, revenue in the Sugar
segment increased by 3.2% in the first quarter. Quota sugar prices
were lower than one year earlier, while in exports of non-quota sugar
AGRANA benefited from the rise in world market prices. Thanks to
relief on the cost side, the segment succeeded in expanding its
margins in quota and non-quota sugar from its own production.

STARCH SEGMENT Revenue: Q1 2010|11: EUR 135.4 million (Q1 2009|10:
EUR 125.6 million) EBIT: Q1 2010|11: EUR 15.3 million (Q1 2009|10:
EUR 11.1 million) The Starch segment recorded an increase in
operating profit of 37.8% before exceptional items (no exceptional
items occurred in the quarter under review). The profit expansion was
made possible by sales volume growth and cost reductions on raw
materials and energy. The segment´s operating profit margin improved
from 8.8% to 11.3%. The higher margin reflects the improved
performance of the Austrian bioethanol business and of the Hungrana
activities in Hungary.

FRUIT SEGMENT Revenue: Q1 2010|11: EUR 223.9 million (Q1 2009|10: EUR
205.2 million) EBIT: Q1 2010|11: EUR 12.8 million (Q1 2009|10: EUR
5.0 million) Fruit segment revenue added 9.1%, with growth of 156.0%
in pre-exceptionals operating profit. Higher sales volumes of fruit
preparations and fruit juice concentrates more than made up for the
lower average sale prices. The rapid recovery of the relevant markets
in Eastern Europe led to very good volume growth in fruit
preparations. The demand growth in Russia was accommodated through
higher utilisation of production capacity - by adding extra shifts
and also delivering from other manufacturing locations.

end of announcement euro adhoc
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ots Originaltext: AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Further inquiry note:

Investor Realtions:

Mag. Maria Fally

Tel.: 01-21137-12905

maria.fally@agrana.com

Public Relations:

Mag. Ulrike Pichler

Tel.: 01-21137-12084

ulrike.pichler@agrana.com

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