Agria Reports Financial Results for Fiscal Year 2016

HONG KONG, CHINA--(Marketwired - Aug 19, 2016) -  Agria Corporation (NYSE: GRO) (the "Company" or "Agria"), a global agricultural company, today announced its financial results for the twelve months ended June 30, 2016.

Note: All figures refer to fiscal year 2016 (i.e. twelve months ended June 30, 2016) unless otherwise noted. Comparisons of Consolidated Statements of Profit or Loss are to fiscal year 2015 (i.e. twelve months ended June 30, 2015). Comparisons of Consolidated Statements of Financial Position are to June 30, 2015 unless otherwise noted. All references to "PGW" refer to the company's primary operating subsidiary, PGG Wrightson.

While the Company reports results in US Dollars, it transacts the majority of its business in New Zealand dollars. To assist in understanding the underlying economic trends of the business, the presentation below reports results both in USD in conformity with IFRS, and on a "constant currency" basis that removes the significant impact of volatility in the average USD/NZD foreign currency exchange rates during the reporting period. "Constant currency" analysis is a non-IFRS measure. Management utilizes local currency comparisons in evaluating the business, and believes this non-IFRS disclosure can aid readers in their analysis of the Company's results.

The company estimates the constant currency growth rate by translating current period figures at the NZD/USD exchange rate used in reporting the prior period results. During the reporting period, the New Zealand dollar depreciated by 13% against the US dollar. Please see the reconciliation table included in this release for more detail.

Financial Highlights:

Revenue was $807.7 million, a decrease of 14.5%. Gross profit declined by 11.4% to $222.4 million, while gross profit margin increased to 27.5%, a 97 basis point expansion. Operating expenses were $195.0 million, a 7.1% decline. Operating profit declined 32.4% to $27.9 million, or 3.5% of revenue. Net profit was $7.9 million, down 46%. Net loss attributable to shareholders was ($8.0) million, or ($0.07) per share.

On a "constant currency" basis: revenue decreased 1%, and gross profit increased by 2%. Operating expenses increased 6%, and operating profit declined 17%. Net profit declined 20%.

Operating profit declined as an increase in Crop Protection and unchanged profit in Seeds and Grain were offset by a decline in Rural Services and higher corporate overhead, both at the PGW subsidiary and the corporate level.

The table below summarizes the impact of exchange rate changes on consolidated results.

		FY2016				FY2015				Y/Y Change			FY2016 Constant Currency				Y/Y Change Constant Currency
Revenue		$	807.7			$	944.7			(15	%)		$	931.1			(1	%)
Gross Profit		$	222.4			$	250.9			(11	%)		$	256.5			2	%
Gross Margin			27.5	%			26.6	%		+97 b	ps			27.5	%		+97 b	ps
Operating Expenses		$	195.0			$	209.9			(7	%)		$	223.0			6	%
Operating Profit		$	27.9			$	41.3			(32	%)		$	34.1			(18	%)
Net Profit		$	7.9			$	14.7			(46	%)		$	11.7			(20	%)
Shareholders Net		$	(8.0	)		$	(0.5	)					$	(6.8	)

Balance sheet changes during the period were mixed. Cash decreased by approximately $1.6 million to $8.3 million. Receivables and inventory were up $48.1 million, while debt increased $18.0 million and other liabilities increased $28.2 million.

On a "constant currency" basis, cash decreased by approximately $1.6 million. Sources of cash were an inventory decline of $4.7 million, a payables increase of $20.3 million, and a debt increase of $14.7 million. The major offsetting uses of cash were prepayments that increased $15.2 million and a payment to a related party for the funding of a pending transaction to purchase their equity interest in Agria Investments Asia, the vehicle through which the Company owns its stake in PGW.

Mr. Alan Lai, Agria's Executive Chairman, commented, "In light of poor trading conditions in the dairy sector and unfavorable foreign exchange impact, we are pleased with our better-than-expected fiscal year 2016 results. Notably, our performance strengthened throughout the second half of the fiscal year, despite challenging weather that impacted operations in South America. Our performance in fiscal year 2016 continued to demonstrate our ability to accomplish our near-term objective of building a solid foundation to drive profitable growth. We believe that we have the right team in place to continue to deliver growth in our principal businesses in New Zealand, as well as expand our capabilities within our other major markets of Australia, South America and China."

Business Highlights:

Seed and Grain
Operating profit of $24.5 million was 41% of the group total before corporate overhead, and was down 15%. Revenue was $284.3 million, which constituted 34% of group revenue, and was down 12%. On a constant currency basis, revenue was up 1%, and operating profit was down 1%. Operating profit benefitted from a focus on driving product mix to higher margin proprietary seeds. Southern Hemisphere operating profit was up 9% (constant currency), offset by an operating loss in China Seeds. Results were strongest in Australia, with solid contributions from New Zealand domestic and export sales. Uruguay was weaker due to extensive flooding in April.

Crop Protection, Nutrients, and Merchandise
Operating profit of $20.5 million was 34% of the group total before corporate overhead, and was down 3%. Revenue was $327.7 million, which constituted 41% of group revenue, and was down 15%. On a constant currency basis, revenue was down 2%, and operating profit was 11% higher. The slightly lower revenue reflected cautious spending by New Zealand farmers, as they reacted to lower dairy prices. The operating profit increase was due to a mix shift to higher value products, and strength in beef and horticulture-related products.

Rural Services
Operating profit of $14.9 million was 25% of the group total before corporate overhead, and was down 25%. Revenue was $195.7 million, which constituted 25% of group revenue, and was down 17%. On a constant currency basis, revenue was down 4%, while operating profit was 13% lower. Livestock operating profit was down slightly as operating margin improvement offset lower revenue. Operating profit in the balance of rural services was down 29%, due to softness in the water business.

Constant Currency Reconciliation
While the Company reports results in US Dollars, it transacts the majority of its business in New Zealand dollars. In order to calculate the constant currency growth rate of various financial measures presented here, the company translated current period figures at the NZD/USD exchange rate used in reporting the prior period results. For the IFRS-compliant presentation, all current period figures were translated to USD at the rate of 0.6704 USD per NZD. Constant currency growth was calculated by translating current period figures at the rate of 0.7742 USD per NZD. The table below reconciles the IFRS-compliant results to the constant currency growth calculation.

Reconciliation

		Amount in current year exchange rates													Constant USD in prior year exchange rates
			USD as Functional Currency			NZD as Functional Currency			RMB as Functional Currency			Total in USD			USD as Functional Currency			NZD as Functional Currency			RMB as Functional Currency			Total in USD
			US$ million			US$ million			US$ million			US$ million			US$ million			US$ million			US$ million			US$ million
Income Statement Items
Exchange rate for Income Statement						0.6704			6.4191									0.7742			6.1393
Revenue			0.0			792.3			15.4			807.7			0.0			915.1			16.1			931.1
	Seed and Grain					269.0			15.4			284.3			-			310.7			16.1			326.7
	Crop protection, Nutrients and Merchandise					327.7						327.7			-			378.4			-			378.4
	Rural Services					195.7						195.7			-			226.0			-			226.0
Gross Profit			0.0			219.2			3.1			222.4			0.0			253.2			3.3			256.5
Operating Expenses			(9.5	)		(178.8	)		(6.7	)		(195.0	)		(9.5	)		(206.5	)		(7.0	)		(223.0	)
Operating Proft			(9.5	)		40.9			(3.5	)		27.9			(9.5	)		47.2			(3.7	)		34.1
	Seed and Grain					27.0			(2.5	)		24.5			-			31.1			(2.6	)		28.5
	Crop protection, Nutrients and Merchandise					20.5						20.5			-			23.7			-			23.7
	Rural Services					14.9						14.9			-			17.3			-			17.3
	Corporate		(9.5	)		(21.6	)		(1.0	)		-32.0			(9.5	)		(24.9	)		(1.1	)		(35.4	)
Net Profit			(14.3	)		26.6			(4.4	)		7.9			(14.3	)		30.7			(4.6	)		11.7

About Agria Corporation
Agria (NYSE: GRO) is a global agricultural company with three principal business segments: Seed and Grain; Crop Protection, Nutrients and Merchandise; and Rural Services. The Seed and Grain segment is engaged in research and development, production and sale of a broad range of seed products and trading of seed and grain products globally. The Crop Protection, Nutrients and Merchandise segment operates an extensive chain of retail stores that supply farm input materials. The Rural Services segment provides livestock trading, wool trading, irrigation and pumping, real estate agency and other agriservices. For more information about Agria Corporation, please visit www.agriacorp.com.

Safe Harbor Statement:
This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements, including the management's commentary, are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "confident" and similar statements. Agria may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Forms 20-F and 6-K, etc., in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Agria's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those risks outlined in Agria's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this announcement unless otherwise stated and Agria does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

Statement Regarding Unaudited Financial Information
The unaudited financial information set forth above is subject to adjustments that may be identified when audit work is completed on our year-end financial statements, which could result in significant differences from this unaudited financial information.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF PROFIT OR LOSS
(UNAUDITED) (In conformity with IFRS as issued by the IASB)
		For the year ended June 30,
		2016			2015
		US$'000			US$'000
Revenue		807,679			944,714
Cost of sales		(585,312	)		(693,804	)
Gross profit		222,367			250,910
Other income		547			312
Operating expenses		(194,977	)		(209,880	)
Operating profit		27,937			41,342
Equity accounted (losses) earnings of associates		(164	)		140
Non-operating items		(532	)		(1,891	)
Fair value adjustments		(155	)		(18	)
Profit before interest and tax		27,086			39,573
Net interest and finance costs		(13,317	)		(12,318	)
Profit before tax		13,769			27,255
Income tax		(5,866	)		(12,567	)
Profit for the year		7,903			14,688
Attributable to:
Equity holders of the Company		(8,024	)		(451	)
Non-controlling interests		15,927			15,139
		7,903			14,688
Earnings/(loss) per ordinary share (US$)
Basic		(0.07	)		(0.00	)
Diluted		(0.07	)		(0.00	)
No. of ordinary shares outstanding		110,766,600			110,766,600

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION
(UNAUDITED) (In conformity with IFRS as issued by the IASB)
			As at June 30		As at June 30
			2016		2015
			US$'000		US$'000
ASSETS
Current assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents		8,332		9,886
	Accounts receivable, prepayments and other current assets		226,090		177,998
	Inventories and biological assets		182,541		180,644
Total current assets			416,963		368,528
Non-current assets:
	Property, plant and equipment, net		92,895		88,993
	Goodwill and intangible assets		10,879		10,198
	Other non-current assets		16,192		22,784
	Deferred tax assets		10,177		8,386
Total non-current assets			130,143		130,361
Total assets			547,106		498,889
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
	Short-term bank borrowings and current portion of long-term bank borrowings		50,327		54,160
	Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities		221,452		201,309
Total current liabilities			271,779		255,469
Non-current liabilities:
	Long-term bank borrowings, net of current portion		82,585		60,785
	Other long-term liabilities		23,157		15,117
Total non-current liabilities			105,742		75,902
Total liabilities			377,521		331,371
Equity:
	Equity of the Company		49,438		56,602
	Non-controlling interests		120,147		110,916
Total equity			169,585		167,518
Total liabilities and equity			547,106		498,889