JENA (dpa-AFX) - Jenoptik AG(JNPKF.PK), an optoelectronics group, reported an increase in earnings for the first quarter as revenues rose nearly 11 percent on international expansion. Expecting a continuation of the positive development of business in 2012, the company reaffirmed its forecasts.
In the quarter, earnings after tax rose 6.7 percent to 8 million euros or 0.14 euros per share from 7.5 million euros or 0.13 euros per share last year. EBIT remained roughly flat with the prior year at 11.6 million euros.
Sales grew 10.6 percent to 137.7 million euros from 124.5 million euros last year, with about 63 percent of sales coming from abroad. The company noted that the Metrology and Defense & Civil Systems segments in particular increased their sales in the US.
The group noted that demand from the automotive industry remained positive and demand from the semiconductor industry was better than expected.
Order intake totaled 148.8 million euros, down 13.8 percent from the high figure in the same quarter last year. The group order backlog increased 3 percent from the end of 2011 to 462.1 million euros.
Looking ahead, the company reaffirmed its 2012 forecasts. It continues to expect sales to increase organically by 2 to 6 percent over 2011 level of 543.3 million euros. EBIT is forecast to come in at between 40 million and 50 million euros.
'Lower interest expenses will have a positive effect on the earnings before tax also in the subsequent quarters and have a positive influence on the Group result for the period,' it noted.
'We still see no solution to the debt crisis in the Western countries and political elections are being held, the results of which could bring about further changes. We want to wait and see how the semiconductor industry progresses,' said the Chairman of the Executive Board.
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
© 2012 AFX News
