BRFS BRF SA

SAO PAULO, Aug. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- BRF (Bovespa: BRFS3; NYSE: BRFS) ended the second quarter of 2012 reporting net sales of R$ 6.8 billion, a growth of 8.7% compared with the same period in 2011. Net income was R$ 6.4 million, the Company recording EBITDA of R$ 565 million, corresponding to 8.3% of net sales.

Sales volumes in the period totaled 1.4 million tons, a 4.9% improvement. However, to date, price increases have been insufficient to neutralize costs arising from spiraling grain prices.

In addition to a challenging economic scenario, quarterly results were impacted by the implementation of the complex initiatives needed to comply with the agreement signed with the Brazilian anti-trust Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE). The implementation of the agreement implies transitory costs as well as a temporary fall in the efficiency of the Company's operations.

These initiatives – which involve the temporary suspension of some categories as well as the divestment of plants and distribution centers – are being executed on time and according to the plan set forth in the agreement signed in June 2011 approving the merger.

During the period, we concluded a ten-year overseas notes offering for a total of US$ 750 million and at historically low costs. This offering has enabled the Company to refinance its 2012 maturities and at the same time lengthening its debt profile and reinforcing liquidity.

MARKET PERFORMANCE

Export revenues from the overseas market 11% year-on-year to R$ 2.8 billion. If compared with the first quarter of 2012, export business was up by 13.6% Compared with the second quarter of 2011, however, margins narrowed due to the performance of certain key markets such as the Middle East and the Far East where a situation of oversupply has persisted since last year.

The domestic market continues to report a positive trend in sales revenue with year-on-year growth of 7%. However, rapidly spiraling increases in costs caused some erosion in operating results when compared with the first quarter of 2012.

Sales revenue also rose in the Dairy Products and Food Service segments, amounting respectively for increases of 9.2% to R$ 702 million and 9.3% to R$ 353 million compared with the second quarter of the previous fiscal year.

Through the medium of its principal brands, between May and June of this year, BRF launched 168 products in its various channels of operations (Brazilian retailing, food service, international market), both in the meats segment as well as dairy products. In this way the Company meets the objectives to bolster its product lines with added value items  and to adjust its market focus.

SOURCE BRF - Brasil Foods S.A.