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

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Financial Figures/Balance Sheet/quarterly report/9-month report

Wien (euro adhoc) - 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
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ots Originaltext: AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

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