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AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG

Earnings Release Jan 21, 2011

733_rns_2011-01-21_71af4abe-a88b-42ab-955b-82ff2d2e4d8a.pdf

Earnings Release

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REPORT ON THE FIRST THREE QUARTERS OF 2010|11

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FIRST THREE QUARTERS OF 2010|11

  • █ Revenue growth of 5.8% to € 1,624.4 million (Q1–Q3 2009|10: € 1,535.8 million)
  • █ Operating profi t improvement of 32.8% to € 104.8 million (Q1–Q3 2009|10: € 78.9 million)
  • █ Increase in operating margin to 6.5% (Q1–Q3 2009|10: 5.1%)
  • █ Improvement of 12.5% in profi t for the period to € 65.0 million (Q1–Q3 2009|10: € 57.8 million)
  • █ Gearing1 of 41.4% (28 February 2010: 41.6%)
  • █ AGRANA included in VÖNIX sustainability index

1 Debt-equity gearing (ratio of net debt to total equity).

03 GROUP MANAGEMENT REPORT

  • 03 Results for the fi rst three quarters
  • 04 Sugar segment
  • 05 Starch segment
  • 06 Fruit segment
  • 07 Management of risks and opportunities
  • 08 Events after the reporting date
  • 08 Outlook

09 INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

  • 09 Consolidated income statement
  • 09 Consolidated statement of recognised income and expense
  • 09 Condensed consolidated cash fl ow statement
  • 10 Consolidated balance sheet
  • 11 Condensed consolidated statement of changes in equity
  • 12 Notes to the interim consolidated fi nancial statements
  • 14 MANAGEMENT BOARD'S RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT

GROUP MANAGEMENT REPORT FOR THE FIRST NINE MONTHS ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2010

RESULTS FOR THE FIRST THREE QUARTERS OF 2010|11

Revenue and earnings

Key fi nancials Q1–Q3 Q1–Q3
AGRANA Group 2010 11 2009 10
Revenue € 1,624.4m € 1,535.8m
Operating profi t before
exceptional items € 104.8m € 78.9m
Operating margin 6.5% 5.1%
Operating profi t after
exceptional items € 104.8m € 78.9m
Purchases of property, plant
and equipment and intangibles1 € 28.0m € 25.5m
Staff count 8,558 8,117

Revenue of the AGRANA Group increased by € 88.6 million or 5.8% in the fi rst three quarters of the 2010|11 fi nancial year (1 March to 30 November 2010) to € 1,624.4 million (Q1–Q3 2009|10: € 1,535.8 million). In all three segments, the revenue growth refl ected the combined net eff ect of volume growth and somewhat lower average prices. In the Sugar segment, the price-related reduction in quota sugar revenue was more than off set by signifi cantly increased non-quota sugar exports. Revenue in the Starch segment also rose, as a result of higher sales volumes. Sales prices of starch products still showed an easing trend in the fi rst half of the fi nancial year as they were brought into line with the lower raw material prices for last year's crop, but a reversal of this trend has been underway since the end of August. AGRANA's revenue also increased in the Fruit segment, as sales volumes grew both in fruit preparations and fruit juice concentrates.

In the fi rst nine months of 2010|11, operating profi t before exceptional items was € 104.8 million, up 32.8% (€ 25.9 million) from the year-earlier level of € 78.9 million. Profi t increased in all three segments. The – expected – rise in raw material costs in the Starch and Fruit segments during the third quarter (September to November) was already partly off set by sales price increases, which made the strain on margins milder than expected. As well, the optimisation measures already initiated in the prior fi nancial year made a positive diff erence in operating profi t before exceptional items. The deterioration in net fi nancial items to a net expense of € 20.2 million (Q1–Q3 2009|10: net expense of € 4.9 million), which came despite a slightly improved net interest expense, was attributable primarily to the non-recurrence of the prior year's currency translation gains. After an income tax expense of € 19.5 million (at a tax rate of 23%), the AGRANA Group's profi t for the period was € 65.0 million (Q1–Q3 2009|10: € 57.8 million). Earnings per share attributable to AGRANA shareholders grew from € 4.04 to € 4.43.

Investment

In the fi rst three quarters of 2010|11, € 28.0 million was invested in purchases of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets (Q1–Q3 2009|10: € 25.5 million). The Sugar segment accounted for € 10.3 million of this (Q1–Q3 2009|10: € 6.8 million), relating largely to the sites in Slovakia (installation of a new molasses tank), Hungary (further investment in the biogas plant in Kaposvár), Austria (project costs for the construction of a new sugar silo in Tulln), Bosnia-Herzegovina (a sifting station for quality assurance) and the Czech Republic. In the Starch segment, € 4.9 million (Q1–Q3 2009|10: € 5.9 million) was invested, largely in machinery and plant in Hungary and in Gmünd, Austria (a new cooker for potato fl akes). As in the prior-year period, investment in the Fruit segment amounted to almost € 13 million. The funds were

04 used, among other things, to launch the project for the production of chocolate fruities in Gleisdorf, Austria, install a tunnel freezer for individual quick freezing of fruit pieces at the Mexican facility, and, in September, start the expansion of the warehouse for fi nished product in Serpuchov, Russia.

Cash fl ow

Operating cash fl ow before change in working capital grew by 24.3% to € 133.1 million (Q1–Q3 2009|10: € 107.1 million), moving in step with the rise in operating profi tability. Given the increase of € 87.6 million in working capital in the nine months to 30 November (Q1–Q3 2009|10: reduction of € 14.1 million), net cash from operating activities was € 45.6 million (Q1–Q3 2009|10: € 121.6 million). Net cash used in investing activities amounted to € 25.2 million (Q1– Q3 2009|10: net cash used of € 23.5 million) amid slightly increased investment of € 28.0 million in property, plant and equipment and intangible assets (Q1–Q3 2009|10: € 25.5 million). After the dividend payment and a net increase of € 68.6 million in borrowings (Q1–Q3 2009|10: net reduction of € 78.9 million), cash fl ow from fi nancing activities increased to a net infl ow of € 41.4 million (Q1–Q3 2009|10: net cash outfl ow from fi nancing activities of € 106.5 million).

Financial position

With total assets up by 11.8% from 28 February 2010, the equity ratio decreased from 47.9% to 44.6%. Current assets increased, thanks primarily to rising trade receivables, inventories and cash and cash equivalents. The increase in noncurrent liabilities resulted from new long-term borrowings undertaken to secure and optimise the Group's fi nancing structure. Current liabilities rose as a result mainly of higher trade payables. Net debt at 30 November 2010 stood at € 389.4 million, up € 12.8 million from the 2009|10 fi nancial year-end level of € 376.6 million. The gearing ratio of 41.4% at the end of the third quarter was very close to that of 28 February (41.6%).

AGRANA share

Share data Q1–Q3
2010 11
High (23 April 2010) € 75.60
Low (26 May 2010) € 56.88
Closing price (30 Nov 2010) € 71.64
Closing book value per share (30 Nov 2010) € 64.32
Closing market capitalisation (30 Nov 2010) € 1,017.4m

AGRANA started the fi nancial year at a share price of € 72.37. On reduced trading volume of about 2,400 shares per day based on single counting, the shares saw a signifi cant price movement on 26 May 2010 (triggered by the adjustment of the MSCI benchmark index) and on 17 September 2010 (as a result of the September expiration date of the share options). June and October, respectively, brought corrections of these eff ects. At € 71.64 per share as of the reporting date, AGRANA's year-end share price came close to matching the year's opening price.

The market capitalisation at 30 November 2010 was € 1,017.4 million, with an unchanged 14.2 million shares outstanding. Since 21 June 2010, AGRANA has been a constituent of VÖNIX, the Austrian sustainability index. This equity index comprises 22 stocks out of a base universe of 60 companies that are leading in social and environmental performance.

AGRANA's share price performance can be followed in the investor relations section of the AGRANA home page at www.agrana.com.

SUGAR SEGMENT

Market environment World sugar market

In its preliminary estimate for the 2010|11 sugar marketing year, F. O. Licht predicts a return to a more even balance of world sugar supply and demand. Total sugar production is estimated at 168.6 million tonnes, which would mean an increase of 10.2 million tonnes from the prior year. The expected growth in world sugar production is to be generated especially in Asia, where production is forecast to increase by 10.0 million tonnes compared with the previous year, bringing total Asian sugar production to 60.9 million tonnes. India is expected to turn from a net importer into a net exporter this year, contributing substantially to the balancing of supply and demand in the world sugar market. World sugar inventories have currently shrunk to their lowest level in 20 years, following the poorer crops in the last two campaigns (2008|09 and 2009|10). At the same time, sugar consumption worldwide has risen and is expected to measure 165.6 million tonnes in the 2010|11 sugar marketing year (2009|10 sugar marketing year: 162.1 million tonnes). However, given the higher overall production, global sugar inventories will probably expand further on balance.

In a very volatile calendar year 2010, world market prices initially fell after the high in February. Since May, however, they advanced strongly again: On 9 November 2010 the raw sugar quotation reached a historic high of US\$ 730 or € 523 per tonne and the white sugar price marked an alltime high of US\$ 805 or € 577 per tonne (these highs were exceeded only after the reporting period, in late December 2010). At the 30 November reporting date, the world market price for raw sugar was US\$ 607 or € 467 per tonne and white sugar quoted at US\$ 710 or € 546 per tonne.

European sugar market

Europe's sugar production for the 2010|11 marketing year is projected to ease by about 2 million tonnes year-on-year to 24.4 million tonnes, of which 15.5 million tonnes is to be produced in the EU-27. The bumper production of the 2009|10 sugar marketing year will thus not be matched this year. Besides the lower beet quantities, beet sugar content will probably also reach only an average level.

The European Commission in October approved non-quota sugar exports of 650,000 tonnes; the export limit set by the World Trade Organization (WTO) is 1.37 million tonnes. For raw sugar imports from outside the EU, in view of the high world market prices, the European Commission has suspended the tariff of € 98 per tonne on preferential imports for the period from 1 December 2010 to 31 August 2011. It also announced a possible increase of the export quota by 350,000 tonnes, the decision on which is pending.

Business performance

Key fi nancials Q3 Q3
Sugar segment 2010 11 2009 10
Revenue € 193.9m € 176.3m
Operating profi t before
exceptional items € 13.7m € 6.1m
Operating margin 7.1% 3.5%
Purchases of property, plant
and equipment and intangibles1 € 2.1m € 1.9m
Key fi nancials Q1–Q3 Q1–Q3
Sugar segment 2010 11 2009 10
Revenue € 560.1m € 547.7m
Operating profi t before
exceptional items € 26.0m € 19.2m
Operating margin 4.6% 3.5%
Purchases of property, plant
and equipment and intangibles1 € 10.3m € 6.8m

Revenue in the Sugar segment was pushed up by € 12.4 million to € 560.1 million (Q1–Q3 2009|10: € 547.7 million). The revenue of € 193.9 million earned in the third quarter (September to November) represented an increase both from the prior year's third quarter (€ 176.3 million) and from this year's second quarter (June to August: € 185.0 million). The major reasons for this were the good sales volume situation in non-quota sugar and the brisk sales of co-products.

The Sugar segment recorded an operating profi t of € 26.0 million before exceptional items, signifi cantly more than the prior-year level of € 19.2 million. Most of the improvement came in the third quarter (September to November), which saw an operating profi t of € 13.7 million (Q3 2009|10: € 6.1 million). Contributing factors were the improved market conditions along with cost savings. Particularly in Romania (despite continuing restricted scope for refi ning because of the high world market price of raw sugar), the increase in market prices for the refi ning products allowed the operating result to recover.

Raw materials, crops and production

For the 2010|11 sugar marketing year the sugar beet production area for the AGRANA Group was expanded to 88,200 hectares. As a consequence of fl ooding, about 1,800 hectares of this was lost from production in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Romania. In total, a beet crop of more than 5.4 million tonnes was harvested (prior year: 5.1 million tonnes). Beet yields (amounts of beet harvested per hectare) were very satisfactory overall, especially in Austria and Hungary. The torrential rains in the Czech Republic and Slovakia led to some depressed yields and crop losses in places, leaving beet yields in these countries at merely average levels. The yield in Romania exceeded the long-term average. In all regions except Austria, the above-average moisture supply in this sugar marketing year reduced the sugar content of the beet to a relatively low level. The AGRANA Group is now expected to produce approximately 803,000 tonnes of beet sugar this year (prior year: 747,000 tonnes).

STARCH SEGMENT

Market environment

The International Grains Council estimates global grain production in the 2010|11 marketing year at 1.73 billion tonnes, or 60 million tonnes less than last year's. Wheat production is forecast at 644 million tonnes (prior year: 677 million tonnes) and the forecast for corn (maize) is 810 million tonnes (prior year: 811 million tonnes).

Total grain production in the European Union is estimated at approximately 276 million tonnes (prior year: 292 million tonnes). The soft wheat harvest is expected to amount to about 128 million tonnes, which is less than in 2009. The 2010 corn harvest in the EU is forecast at 55 million tonnes, down 4% from a year ago. At the beginning of December on the Euronext LIFFE commodity derivatives exchange in Paris, corn quoted at around € 215 per tonne and wheat around € 230.

Throughout the EU, certifi cation of the sustainability of biofuel production will be a legal requirement from 1 January 2011. In Austria, compliance with sustainability requirements for raw materials will be monitored by Agrarmarkt Austria.

Business performance

Key fi nancials Q3 Q3
Starch segment 2010 11 2009 10
Revenue € 152.0m € 128.6m
Operating profi t before
exceptional items € 12.7m € 13.9m
Operating margin 8.4% 10.8%
Purchases of property, plant
and equipment and intangibles1 € 2.0m € 2.1m
Key fi nancials Q1–Q3 Q1–Q3
Starch segment 2010 11 2009 10
Revenue € 424.6m € 380.4m
Operating profi t before
exceptional items € 43.5m € 34.3m
Operating margin 10.2% 9.0%
Purchases of property, plant

The revenue growth of 11.6% in the fi rst three quarters of 2010|11 to € 424.6 million was driven by higher sales quantities in all major groups of core and by-products. The volume growth more than made up for the year-on-year reduction in average selling prices seen in the period to September.

Operating profi t rose by € 9.2 million to € 43.5 million (prior year: € 34.3 million). Revenue growth – driven by volume and recently also by prices – and an eff ective purchasing strategy were the key reasons for the increase in operating margin from 9% to 10.2%.

Raw materials, crops and production

With a planting area of about 5,900 hectares (prior year: 5,600 hectares), the starch potato harvest in Austria reached approximately 186,000 tonnes in the 2010|11 fi nancial year (prior year: 187,000 tonnes). Potato starch production is forecast to exceed the prior-year level of 40,000 tonnes. In the current year this represents a quota utilisation rate of 85% (prior year: 84%).

Approximately 112,000 tonnes of wet corn was processed in Austria (prior year: 101,000 tonnes). In the 98 days of the campaign (prior year: 86 days), 103,000 tonnes of yellow corn and 9,000 tonnes of specialty corn (waxy corn, organic corn and certifi ed non-GMO corn) were used. Since then, production was switched back to the use of dry corn. For the full fi nancial year, corn processing volume is expected to reach about 382,000 tonnes (prior year: 362,000 tonnes).

Total corn processing in Hungary for 2010|11 is projected at 1,020,000 tonnes (prior year: 915,000 tonnes). The processing of wet corn was completed at the beginning of December; the volume of 190,000 tonnes processed was broadly in line with the prior year.

Total corn processing in Romania in the 2010|11 fi nancial year is projected at approximately 33,000 tonnes (prior year: 25,000 tonnes). About 12,000 tonnes of wet corn was processed (prior year: 9,500 tonnes).

In the bioethanol plant at Pischelsdorf, some 60,000 tonnes of wet corn was processed from the middle of September to mid-December (prior year: 12,000 tonnes). For the full fi nancial year, total grain processing volume at the plant is expected to reach about 507,000 tonnes (prior year: 470,000 tonnes).

FRUIT SEGMENT

Market environment

In the 2010 calendar year the world market for fruit preparations is expected to grow by just under 2.5% in volume terms. Growth in the fi rst half of the year was slightly better than in the second half. Market growth is strongest in Eastern Europe and Asia, followed by North and South America; these are regions that lag well behind Western Europe in per capita consumption of fruit yoghurts and thus have high catch-up potential. By contrast, the Central and Western Europe regions show only modest growth rates of about 1%. Purchasing prices for raw fruit have risen signifi cantly. In various emerging market countries, the brand name manufacturers (which AGRANA supplies) seek to complement their off ering of premium brands by opening up additional market and customer segments through new, lower-priced product lines.

In the fruit juice concentrates market, after the low prices of the last two years, a signifi cantly higher general level of prices has become established in the 2010 season. The size (measured by product volume) of the North American and Western European sales markets remained stable. Eastern Europe and South East Asia, however, will generate notable impetus for growth.

Business performance

Key fi nancials Q3 Q3
Fruit segment 2010 11 2009 10
Revenue € 205.2m € 196.7m
Operating profi t before
exceptional items € 13.7m € 14.9m
Operating margin 6.7% 7.6%
Purchases of property, plant
and equipment and intangibles1 € 4.7m € 5.2m
Key fi nancials Q1–Q3 Q1–Q3
Fruit segment 2010 11 2009 10
Revenue € 639.7m € 607.7m
Operating profi t before
exceptional items € 35.4m € 25.4m
Operating margin 5.5% 4.2%
Purchases of property, plant
and equipment and intangibles1 € 12.7m € 12.8m

Revenue in the Fruit segment expanded by 5.3% in the fi rst three quarters of 2010|11, to € 639.7 million. Higher sales volumes of fruit preparations and fruit juice concentrates more than made up for the somewhat lower average sales prices in the reporting period. Particularly in fruit preparations, the volume of business was boosted in nearly all regions in the fi rst nine months, with average volume growth of about 6%. The biggest growth driver was Eastern Europe, where market share was added in Russia in particular. As the Russian plant reached the limits of its capacity, demand in Russia was supplied in part by deliveries from Poland and Ukraine. In Central Europe as well, growth rates exceeded the current Group-wide average.

The higher raw material prices – which, depending on the specifi c fruit, were up to three times as high as one year earlier – had an impact on berry juice concentrate prices. The increase in product sales prices caused the margin situation to normalise for all concentrates. For apple juice concentrate, the price more than doubled over the past twelve months as a result of the poor European crop and limited availability of Chinese product.

The fi rst nine months' operating profi t of € 35.4 million before exceptional items was much higher than one year earlier (€ 25.4 million). The operating margin in the Fruit segment widened to 5.5% (Q1–Q3 2009|10: 4.2%). The main reasons for this were the volume growth and the numerous organisa tional and cost improvement measures. The increase in raw material prices did not unfold an eff ect until near the end of the reporting period.

Raw materials, crops and production

The poorer-than-average summer crops in Europe and North America, combined with stronger demand, led to price increases for almost all fruits. The price hikes for autumn berry crops, such as raspberry and blackberry, were signifi cantly less pronounced. Tropical fruits like pineapples and bananas also went up in price. Prices of additives increased amid the global rise in prices of agricultural raw materials. This aff ected sugar, liquid sugar, all starches, and pectins. Prospects for the early season crops in Mexico and Morocco suggest sustained high prices, leading AGRANA to expect further increases in raw materials for the fruit preparations business.

Following two years of very good apple crop quantities in Europe, this year brought a (largely weather-induced) signifi cant tightening of the raw material supply for fruit juice concentrate production. Owing in part to the fact that the fresh fruit market is served preferentially before the processing market, this led to a sharp increase in apple prices. Having anticipated this development, AGRANA has entered into collaboration agreements in Poland and Turkey to ensure the ability to supply the necessary quantities of fruit juice concentrates to customers despite this year's more diffi cult raw material procurement situation.

The apple processing season was brought to a close in the middle of November at all facilities other than in Poland and China, where it ran until the middle of December.

MANAGEMENT OF RISKS AND OPPORTUNITIES

AGRANA uses an integrated system for the early identifi cation and monitoring of risks that are relevant to the Group. A detailed description of the Group's business risks is provided on pages 62 to 66 of the 2009|10 annual report.

As noted in the annual report, in the 2009|10 fi nancial year, competition authorities initiated investigations of AGRANA subsidiaries in two Eastern European countries. The focus of the inquiries includes questions in connection with the

08 EU sugar market reform and the implementation of the new sugar market regulations.

On 7 September 2010 AGRANA was informed that the Austrian Federal Competition Authority had fi led an application with the Cartel Court in Vienna for a declaratory judgement against, among other parties, AGRANA Zucker GmbH, Vienna, and Südzucker AG, Mannheim/Ochsenfurt, Germany, for an alleged past contravention of the Austrian Cartel Act. Since then, AGRANA and Südzucker have fi led written statements with the court concerning the allegations.

There are at present no known risks to the AGRANA Group's ability to continue in operational existence, and no future risks of this nature are currently discernible.

EVENTS AFTER THE REPORTING DATE

No signifi cant reportable events relevant to the Group's fi nancial position or to its results of operations or cash fl ows occurred after the balance sheet date of 30 November 2010.

OUTLOOK

For the full year 2010|11, AGRANA expects revenue of more than € 2 billion, with the revenue growth coming from all three business segments. Notable increases in raw material prices were already evident towards the end of the fi rst half of 2010|11. Although, as the Group had anticipated, this led to margin pressure, the brisk market demand allowed the margin eff ect to be moderated by adjusting sales prices. Buoyed by the good third quarter, a signifi cant increase in operating profi t and operating margin in all segments is now likely for the full fi nancial year.

In the Sugar segment, 2010|11 is the fi rst fi nancial year where the regulatory environment created by the EU sugar regime reform applies in its form eff ective until 2015. This means that the temporary strain from the sugar market's restructur ing phase is now eliminated. The current campaign will result in full utilisation of the sugar quota and will also produce more out-of-quota sugar than was the case last year. The good marketing opportunities for sugar in the EU and the world market augur a continuing positive trend for the remainder of the 2010|11 fi nancial year. This should entail a signifi cant improvement in profi t compared to the prior year.

In the Starch segment for the fi nancial year as a whole, AGRANA expects sales volume growth and an increase in market prices for starch products in step with raw material costs. For the bioethanol activities, revenue growth is forecast as a result of the volume expansion in production and sales. Since the summer of 2010, there have already been some signifi cant increases in raw material prices for ethanol production, which will weigh on the operating margin in the months ahead. In native and modifi ed starches and in saccharifi cation products and co-products, the higher raw material prices have already fed through to an adjustment in selling prices.

In the Fruit segment, a market recovery has emerged for the 2010|11 fi nancial year that is expressed in rising sales quantities. The in some cases very powerful increases in fruit prices were directly passed through via higher product selling prices for fruit juice concentrates; in fruit preparations prices, they are being passed through gradually by means of the contractual annual price adjustments. The increases in both volumes and prices will signifi cantly boost revenue in the Fruit segment, with earnings also bound to rise.

Investment across the AGRANA Group in the 2010|11 fi nancial year will total about € 60 million.

INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE FIRST NINE MONTHS ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2010 (UNAUDITED)

Third quarter First nine months
(1 September – 30 November) (1 March – 30 November)
CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT 2010 11 2009 10 2010 11 2009 10
¤000 ¤000 ¤000 ¤000
Revenue 551,036 501,588 1,624,382 1,535,801
Changes in inventories of fi nished and unfi nished goods 163,959 113,143 5,180 (92,584)
Own work capitalised 484 994 2,165 2,032
Other operating income 9,246 14,950 22,479 22,787
Cost of materials (519,370) (421,245) (1,116,802) (970,747)
Staff costs (67,904) (62,596) (170,753) (159,336)
Depreciation, amortisation and impairment losses (24,176) (26,563) (59,667) (59,827)
Other operating expenses (73,246) (85,292) (202,204) (199,220)
Operating profi t after exceptional items 40,029 34,979 104,780 78,906
Finance income 1,528 788 7,350 20,602
Finance expense (5,761) (8,151) (27,589) (25,526)
Net fi nancial items (4,233) (7,363) (20,239) (4,924)
Profi t before tax 35,796 27,616 84,541 73,982
Income tax expense (8,122) (4,622) (19,512) (16,183)
Profi t for the period 27,674 22,994 65,029 57,799
Attributable to shareholders of the parent 26,322 22,464 62,881 57,363
Non-controlling interests 1,352 530 2,148 436
Earnings per share under IFRS € 1.85 € 1.58 € 4.43 € 4.04
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT
OF RECOGNISED INCOME AND EXPENSE
Profi t for the period 27,674 22,994 65,029 57,799
Income/(expense) recognised directly in equity
– Currency translation diff erences (78) (5,424) 1,384 9,252
– Available-for-sale fi nancial assets (308) (114) (40) 475
– Cash fl ow hedge (2,318) 19 (3,077) 7,783
– Tax eff ect of cash fl ow hedges 521 (10) 776 (2,119)
Net income/(expense) recognised directly in equity (2,183) (5,529) (957) 15,391
Total recognised income and expense for the period 25,491 17,465 64,072 73,190
Attributable to shareholders of the parent 24,046 17,044 62,341 71,839
Non-controlling interests 1,445 421 1,731 1,351
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT 2010 11 2009 10
for the fi rst nine months (1 March – 30 November) ¤000 ¤000
Operating cash fl ow before change in working capital 133,104 107,111
Losses on disposal of non-current assets 103 315
Change in working capital (87,568) 14,132
Net cash from operating activities 45,639 121,558
Net cash (used in) investing activities (25,181) (23,509)
Net cash from/(used in) fi nancing activities 41,392 (106,476)
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 61,850 (8,427)
Eff ect of movements in foreign exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents 1,700 1,334
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 70,388 75,458
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period 133,938 68,365
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET 28 Feb 2010
¤000 ¤000
ASSETS
A. Non-current assets
Intangible assets 249,703 252,446
Property, plant and equipment 568,921 597,788
Securities 104,959 104,977
Investments in non-consolidated subsidiaries
and outside companies, and loan receivables 6,158 7,027
Receivables and other assets 14,254 10,652
Deferred tax assets 36,510 30,845
980,505 1,003,735
B. Current assets
Inventories 568,253 468,576
Trade receivables and other assets 419,631 336,688
Current tax assets 7,699 5,013
Securities 246 3,515
Cash and cash equivalents 133,938 70,388
1,129,767 884,180
Total assets 2,110,272 1,887,915
A. EQUITY AND LIABILITIES
Equity
Share capital 103,210 103,210
Share premium and other capital reserve 411,362 411,362
Retained earnings 398,904 364,657
Equity attributable to equity holders of the parent 913,476 879,229
Non-controlling interests 26,848 25,425
940,324 904,654
B. Non-current liabilities
Retirement and termination benefi t obligations 44,284 44,263
Other provisions 14,283 14,073
Borrowings 330,267 208,301
Other payables 1,974 2,229
Deferred tax liabilities 20,737 19,369
411,545 288,235
C. Current liabilities
Other provisions 30,251 28,592
Borrowings 298,303 347,160
Trade and other payables 408,450 308,533
Current tax liabilities 21,399 10,741
758,403 695,026
Total equity and liabilities 2,110,272 1,887,915
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED Equity attributable Non- Total
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY to equity holders controlling equity
for the fi rst nine months (1 March – 30 November) of the parent interests
¤000 ¤000 ¤000
2010 11
At 1 March 2010 879,229 25,425 904,654
Change in revaluation reserve (IAS 39) (2,342) 1 (2,341)
Change in equity as a result of currency translation diff erences 1,802 (418) 1,384
Net expense recognised directly in equity (540) (417) (957)
Profi t for the period 62,881 2,148 65,029
Total recognised income and expense for the period 62,341 1,731 64,072
Dividends paid (27,694) (476) (28,170)
Other changes (400)
168
(232)
At 30 November 2010 913,476 26,848 940,324
2009 10
At 1 March 2009 804,155 21,758 825,913
Change in revaluation reserve (IAS 39) 6,145 (6) 6,139
Change in equity as a result of currency translation diff erences 8,331 921 9,252
Net income recognised directly in equity 14,476 915 15,391
Profi t for the period 57,363 436 57,799
Total recognised income and expense for the period 71,839 1,351 73,190
At 30 November 2009 846,199 25,214 871,413
Other changes (2,101) 3,506 1,405
Dividends paid (27,694) (1,401) (29,095)

NOTES TO THE INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE FIRST NINE MONTHS ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2010 (UNAUDITED)

SEGMENT REPORTING 2010 11 2009 10 2010 11 2009 10
for the fi rst nine months ¤000 ¤000 ¤000 ¤000
(1 March – 30 November)
Operating profi t
Total revenue after exceptional items
Sugar 602,995 587,496 Sugar 25,969 19,166
Starch 449,762 406,265 Starch 43,451 34,307
Fruit 639,852 607,739 Fruit 35,360 25,433
Group 1,692,609 1,601,500 Group 104,780 78,906
Inter-segment revenue Investment
Sugar (42,925) (39,823) Sugar 10,337 6,788
Starch (25,150 (25,847) Starch 4,934 5,938
Fruit (152) (29) Fruit 12,698 12,747
Group (68,227) (65,699) Group 27,969 25,473
Revenue Staff count
Sugar 560,070 547,673 Sugar 2,280 2,372
Starch 424,612 380,418 Starch 879 881
Fruit 639,700 607,710 Fruit 5,399 4,864
Group 1,624,382 1,535,801 Group 8,558 8,117
SEGMENT REPORTING 2010 11 2009 10 2010 11 2009 10
for the fi rst nine months ¤000 ¤000 ¤000 ¤000
(1 March – 30 November)
Operating profi t
Total revenue after exceptional items
Sugar 602,995 587,496 Sugar 25,969 19,166
Starch 449,762 406,265 Starch 43,451 34,307
Fruit 639,852 607,739 Fruit 35,360 25,433
Group 1,692,609 1,601,500 Group 104,780 78,906
Inter-segment revenue Investment
Sugar (42,925) (39,823) Sugar 10,337 6,788
Starch (25,150 (25,847) Starch 4,934 5,938
Fruit (152) (29) Fruit 12,698 12,747
Group (68,227) (65,699) Group 27,969 25,473
Revenue Staff count
Sugar 560,070 547,673 Sugar 2,280 2,372
Starch 424,612 380,418 Starch 879 881
Fruit 639,700 607,710 Fruit 5,399 4,864

ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The interim report of the AGRANA Group for the nine months ended 30 November 2010 was prepared in accordance with the rules for interim fi nancial reporting under IAS 34, in compliance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and their interpretation by the International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (IFRIC). The interim consolidated fi nancial statements at and for the period ended 30 November 2010 were not audited or reviewed.

The standards and interpretations eff ective for the fi rst time in the preparation of interim accounts in the 2010|11 fi nancial year did not have an impact on the presentation of the Group's fi nancial statements or on its fi nancial position, results of operations or cash fl ows. These standards and interpretations are outlined on pages 77 to 78 of the annual report 2009|10. Except for these changes, the same accounting methods were applied as in the preparation of the consolidated annual fi nancial statements for the year ended 28 February 2010 (the 2009|10 fi nancial year). To this extent, the accounting policies set out in the annual report 2009|10

from page 82 onward therefore apply mutatis mutandis to these interim accounts.

Corporate income taxes were determined on the basis of country-specifi c income tax rates, taking into account the tax planning for the full fi nancial year.

The annual report 2009|10 of the AGRANA Group is available on the Internet at www.agrana.com for online viewing or downloading.

SCOPE OF CONSOLIDATION

With eff ect from the end of the third quarter of 2010|11, the Egyptian company AGRANA Nile Fruits Processing (SAE) was consolidated for the fi rst time. This new company, in which AGRANA holds a 51% ownership interest, is fully consolidated in the Group fi nancial statements.

The newly founded Biogáz Fejlesztő Kft. in Hungary has been included in the fi nancial statements since the second quarter of 2010|11, by full consolidation. Its principal business activity is gas production and marketing.

Most of the Group's sugar production falls into the three months from October to December. Depreciation and impairment of plant and equipment used in the campaign are therefore incurred largely in the fi nancial third quarter.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT

Operating profi t after exceptional items in the fi rst three quarters of 2010|11 was € 104.8 million (Q1–Q3 2009|10: € 78.9 million). The profi t improvement occurred in every business segment.

Net fi nancial items amounted to a net fi nance expense of € 20.2 million (Q1–Q3 2009|10: net fi nance expense of € 4.9 million). The negative change of € 15.3 million stemmed primarily from foreign exchange eff ects. While the prior-year period had brought high currency translation gains of € 13.2 million, the fi rst three quarters of 2010|11 saw translation losses of € 3.8 million.

After tax, Group profi t for the fi rst three quarters of the fi nancial year was € 65.0 million (Q1–Q3 2009|10: € 57.8 million).

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT

In the nine months to the end of November 2010, cash and cash equivalents increased by € 63.6 million, to € 133.9 million. Operating cash fl ow before change in working capital grew by € 26.0 million, to € 133.1 million (Q1–Q3 2009|10: € 107.1 million). The change of € –87.6 million in working capital (Q1–Q3 2009|10: change of € 14.1 million) was attributable in part to stronger inventory growth and ultimately

13 SEASONALITY OF BUSINESS resulted in net cash from operating activities of € 45.6 million (Q1–Q3 2009|10: € 121.6 million).

Net cash used in investing activities was € 25.2 million (Q1–Q3 2009|10: net cash used of € 23.5 million), refl ecting the continuing moderate scale of capital investment.

Net new non-current borrowings amounted to € 122.0 million while current borrowings were reduced by € 53.4 million. This together with the dividend payment by AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG resulted in a net cash infl ow from fi nancing activities of € 41.4 million (Q1–Q3 2009|10: net cash outfl ow from fi nancing activities of € 106.5 million).

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

The increase of € 222.4 million in total assets from the level of 28 February 2010 to a new total of € 2,110.3 million was driven largely by inventory growth in the Sugar and Fruit segments and an increase in trade receivables and cash.

With total equity of € 940.3 million (28 February 2010: € 904.7 million), the equity ratio at the end of November was 44.6% (28 February 2010: 47.9%).

STAFF COUNT

In the fi rst nine months of the year, the AGRANA Group had an average of 8,558 employees (Q1–Q3 2009|10: 8,117). A decrease of 92 employees in the Sugar segment resulted from internal restructuring measures in Romania and Bulgaria. An increase of 535 employees in the Fruit segment arose mainly from the greater use of seasonal labour in Morocco, Ukraine and China.

MANAGEMENT BOARD'S RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT

We confi rm that, to the best of our knowledge:

█ the condensed consolidated interim fi nancial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with the applicable accounting standards, give a true and fair view of the Group's fi nancial position, results of operations and cash fl ows; and

Vienna, 13 January 2011

Johann Marihart Fritz Gattermayer

Walter Grausam Thomas Kölbl Member of the Management Board Member of the Management Board

█ the Group's management report for the fi rst three quarters gives a true and fair view of the fi nancial position, results of operations and cash fl ows of the Group in relation to (1) the important events in the fi rst nine months of the fi nancial year and their eff ects on the condensed consolidated interim fi nancial statements, (2) the principal risks and uncertainties for the remaining three months of the fi nancial year, and (3) the reportable signifi cant transactions with related parties.

Chief Executive Offi cer Member of the Management Board

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This interim report contains forward-looking statements, which are based on assumptions and estimates made by the Management Board of AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG. Although these assumptions, plans and projections represent the Management Board's current intentions and best knowledge, a large number of internal and external factors may cause actual future developments and results to diff er materially from these assumptions and estimates. Some examples of such factors are, without limitation: negotiations concerning world trade agreements; changes in the overall economic environment, especially macroeconomic variables such as exchange rates, infl ation and interest rates; EU sugar policy; consumer behaviour; and public policy related to food and energy.

AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG does not guarantee in any way that the actual future developments and actual future results achieved will match the assumptions and estimates expressed or made in this interim report, and does not accept any liability in the event that assumptions and estimates prove to be incorrect.

Minor, immaterial rounding errors are possible in this report as a result of the standard round-half-up convention used in rounding individual amounts and percentages.

No liability is assumed for misprints, typographical and similar errors.

FINANCIAL CALENDAR

13 May 2011 Press conference on
annual results for 2010 11
1 July 2011 Annual General Meeting for 2010 11
6 July 2011 Dividend payment and
ex-dividend date
14 July 2011 Publication of results
for fi rst quarter of 2011 12
13 October 2011 Publication of results
for fi rst half of 2011 12
12 January 2012 Publication of results
for fi rst three quarters of 2011 12

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG Donau-City-Strasse 9 1220 Vienna, Austria www.agrana.com

Corporate Communications/Investor Relations: Hannes Haider Phone: +43-1-211 37-12905 Fax: +43-1-211 37-12045 E-mail: [email protected]

Corporate Communications/Public Relations: Ulrike Middelhoff Phone: +43-1-211 37-12084 Fax: +43-1-211 37-12045 E-mail: [email protected]

This English translation of the AGRANA report is solely for readers' convenience. Only the German-language report is defi nitive.

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