OREANDA-NEWS. MHP S.A. ("MHP" or the "Company", LSE ticker: "MHPC"), one of the leading agro-industrial companies in Ukraine, focusing on the production of poultry and the cultivation of grain, today announces its unaudited results for the second quarter and six months ended 30 June 2014.

Change in management

As announced on July 3, 2014, Mr. Yuriy Kosyuk resigned on that date from the position of CEO of MHP following his appointment by the President of Ukraine to the post of First Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration. The Board appointed Mr. Yuriy Melnyk as CEO of MHP.

Operational highlights

Poultry and related operations

- During the first half of the year all the Company's chicken production facilities (including

those in Crimea) continued to operate at full capacity with no changes in operations.

Currently the Vinnytsia poultry farm operates at full capacity on 10 rearing sites (out of 12); the last 2 sites will be brought into production during the second half of 2014.

The volume of chicken meat sales to third parties (domestic and export) in H1 2014 increased by 23% year-on-year to 251,990 tonnes due to the increased production at the Vinnytsia poultry farm.

Due to strong domestic demand, MHP's sales volumes in Ukraine in H1 2014 increased by around 30% year-on-year.

In H1 2014 poultry exports increased by 4% year-on-year to 57,560 tonnes, which constituted 23% of total poultry sales, mainly due to an increase to the Middle East, Northern Africa and some CIS countries. MHP's exports to Custom Union countries have been banned since February 2014 but have been redirected successfully to other regions.

Since October 2013 MHP has started exporting chicken meat to the European Union countries and since June 2014 we continue exporting poultry with zero import duty and gradually increasing volumes.

In H1 2014, our average chicken meat price was UAH 16.86, 4% higher than in H1 2013. The increase is mostly related to the positive effect of Ukrainian hryvnia devaluation due to our US dollar-denominated export prices and as exports comprise 23% of total sales of poultry meat.

In H1 2014, as a result of increased production of fodder for chicken, 137,163 tonnes of sunflower oil were sold at an average price of USD 857 per tonne; this was 23% higher in volume and 24% lower in price compared to H1 2013, in line with world market price trends.

Grain growing

In 2014, in grain growing operations the Company expects to harvest around 290,000 hectares in Ukraine and 40,000 hectares in the Russian Federation as well as to cultivate around 30,000 hectares in other agricultural operations.

MHP's current net yields of wheat (5.8 tonnes per hectare) and rape (3.8 tonnes per hectare) continue to be substantially higher than Ukraine's average.

Harvesting campaign of sunflower and soybeans has just started.

Other agriculture

Sausage and cooked meat sales volumes decreased slightly from 16,110 tonnes in H1 2013 to 15,172 tonnes in H1 2014, but with a substantial 11% price increase year-on-year.

The Company's share of Ukraine's market for sausage and cooked meat products remained stable at around 10%.

Financial highlights

Q2 2014 highlights

Revenue of USD 329 million, a decrease of 7% compared to Q2 2013 as a result of 46% devaluation of the Ukrainian Hryvnia against the US Dollar, partly offset by strong growth of chicken meat and sunflower oil sales volumes.

EBITDA of USD 166 million, an increase of 38% compared to Q2 2013 due to higher chicken meat sales volumes as well as lower poultry production cost year-on-year as a result of fixed corn price.

Operating margin increased to 45% in Q2 2014 compared with 27% in Q2 2013.

Net income of USD 46 million, a decrease of 14% compared to Q2 2013 as a result of USD 88 million of non-cash foreign exchange losses mainly attributable to revaluation of foreign currency denominated debt following the devaluation of the Ukrainian Hryvnia.

H1 2014 highlights

Revenue of USD 637 million, a decrease of 3% compared to H1 2013 as a result of the 48% devaluation of the Ukrainian Hryvnia against the US Dollar, partly offset by strong growth of chicken meat and sunflower oil sales volumes.

EBITDA of USD 272 million, an increase of 41% compared to H1 2013, predominantly due to higher chicken meat sales volumes as well as lower poultry production cost year-on-year as a result of fixed corn price.

Operating margin increased to 36% in H1 2014 compared with 22% in H1 2013.

Net loss of USD 270 million (net income H1 2013: USD 90 million) after accounting for USD 454 million of non-cash foreign exchange losses, mainly due to revaluation of foreign currency denominated debt following the devaluation of the Ukrainian Hryvnia.

Commenting on the results, Yuriy Melnyk, Chief Executive Officer of MHP, said:

"Having worked as a First Deputy CEO of MHP for the last four years, I am honored to take up the charge of CEO of the Company in this challenging period for Ukraine and for the Ukrainian people. I believe that the skills and the experience I have acquired, together with the determination to further develop our Company in line with its strategy and with the help of a strong team will allow us to deliver solid performances.

In my first report to shareholders as CEO, I am pleased to report a strong performance by MHP in the first half of 2014. The Company continued to increase its overall production volumes, which resulted in significantly increased sales of poultry (both in Ukraine and for export) and sunflower oil.

Despite the introduction of an import ban by the Customs Union in February 2014, and following our strategy of export diversification, MHP increased poultry sales across all regions, so that export chicken sales volumes during H1 2014 slightly increased by 4% year-on-year. The preferential regime of zero import duty by the EU, which came into effect in June 2014, will bring new opportunities for MHP in Europe, which we have already started to develop.

Notwithstanding the temporary suspension in operations of the Shahtarska poultry farm, which is responsible for the production of hatching eggs, our management has taken all necessary steps to allow MHP's operations to continue to run smoothly.

I believe that MHP's sustainable, vertically integrated business model, highly competitive cost structure and intensive investment in state-of-the-art facilities are strong drivers for the Company's growth and development both in poultry and grain operations. We are confident that we will continue to deliver strong operational and financial performance in 2014 and beyond."