Asian Citrus, China's largest orange producer, countered some of the pall cast over its shares by its links to a group accused of fraud by revealing a profits jump, fostered by a takeover and rises in both fruit output and price.

The London-listed group - which earlier this month revealed a 19.4% rise in its winter orange crop, which accounts for a little over one-half of revenues - said that seling prices of the fruit had risen by 3-4%.

The company had received an extra boost in its performance for the second half of 2011 through the integration of BPG Food and Beverage, the fruit juices company acquired a year ago.

Interim results to be released next month will reveal "significant increases in turnover, cash generated from operations and core net profit", Asian Citrus said, even if headline earnings may be undermined by changes to the fair value of plantations – an accounting measure to which investors typically only give less value than operating results.

Chaoda ties

The statement fostered a 4.8% rebound to 38.25p in Asian Citrus shares, which nonetheless stood at about one-half of levels a year before, a decline largely reflecting investors' concerns over Chinese companies listed abroad following claims of fraud at groups such as Sino-Forest Corporation.

Asian Citrus has suffered in particular because of its links to Chaoda Modern Agriculture, one of the companies under suspicion of fraud, whose shares were suspended on the Hong Kong stock exchange in September.

Chaoda, a vegetable producer-to-fertilizer distributor, owns a 5.4% stake in Asian Citrus, and has a place on the orange grower's board.

Standard & Poor's analysts on Wednesday restated a CCC rating on Chaoda debt, deep into junk territory, saying they were "uncertain about Chaoda's liquidity", and its ability to repay a $200m convertible bond "in a timely manner".

The ratings agency added: "Chaoda has weak sources of liquidity to cover its needs, regardless of the bond repayment date."

Broker reaction

However, the Asian Citrus announcement was welcomed by Seymour Piece analyst Sue Munden, who retained a "buy" recommendation on the group's shares, with a target price of 90p.

"The announcement this morning should significantly reassure investors regarding the continuing strong financial performance of the group," Ms Munden said.

"We appreciate that the current weakness persists due to ongoing concerns about the sector, and the relationship with Chaoda… is not helpful."

Asian Citrus was set in its interim results to unveil a 55% rise in revenues and 60% jump in earnings, she added.