Nov 14, 2012. /Lesprom Network/. Homag Group performed better in sales revenue and order intake than the industry in the 3Q 2012 and was additionally able to significantly improve earnings, as the company said in the press release received by Lesprom Network. While order intake from German manufacturers of woodworking machinery was down 10% overall between July and September, the order intake of Euro 124.9 million at the Homag Group was only down 3.2% on the prior year (Euro 129 million). CEO Dr. Markus Flik views this order situation as positive, especially in light of the consistent management of earnings. “We see this as a sign of customers’ great confidence in our products. We were able to generate this order intake, although we paid special attention to the margin in the acquisition of projects.” In the 3Q 2012, sales revenue decreased slightly to Euro 195.5 million (prior year: Euro 204.6 million). Adjusted for the respective share allocable to the large-scale project Mekran, this results in a 2.6% rise on the prior year. The earnings figures of the Homag Group improved considerably in the reporting quarter. CFO Hans-Dieter Schumacher sees this as confirmation of the effectiveness of the measures taken to enhance operating performance even in a difficult market environment. For instance, operative EBITDA before employee participation expenses and before extraordinary expenses increased by approximately 25% to Euro 21.5 million. This corresponds to an operative EBITDA margin of 11%. EBT after employee participation expenses and after extraordinary expenses improved by around 64% to Euro 9.9 million. At Euro 5.7 million, the net profit for the period after non-controlling interests more than doubled (prior year: Euro 2.7 million), and leads to earnings per share of Euro 0.36 (prior year: Euro 0.17). Sales revenue at the Homag Group decreased slightly in the first nine months of 2012 to Euro 571.5 million. Adjusted for the respective share allocable to the large-scale project Mekran, this results in a rise in sales revenue to Euro 561.8 million. Order intake decreased to Euro 452.1 million in the first nine months of 2012. By contrast, the earnings situation in the Homag Group improved significantly between January and September 2012. Operative EBITDA before employee participation expenses and before extraordinary expenses climbed to Euro 52.4 million (prior year: Euro 45.7 million). EBT after employee participation expenses and after extraordinary expenses rose to Euro 18.2 million (prior year: Euro 11 million). Net profit for the period after non-controlling interests was slightly above double at Euro 8.7 million, leading to earnings per share of Euro 0.55. The management board at the Homag Group now expects to slightly exceed their previous sales revenue forecast for 2012 and intends to generate more than Euro 750 million. Operative EBITDA before employee participation expenses and before extraordinary expenses is still estimated at Euro 65 million. The net profit for the year should be above Euro 5 million. In order intake, the Homag Group felt increasing uncertainty and a corresponding reluctance to invest. “Nevertheless we still aim to reach an order intake that is roughly at the prior-year level, even though we are aware that this appears ambitious from today’s perspective,” explains CEO Flik. For the next fiscal year, 2013, the Homag Group forecasts an order intake at least at the level of 2011 or to slightly surpass this figure and sales revenue of around Euro 800 million. Due to the effects of restructuring and cost savings measures, an operative EBITDA of at least Euro 70 million and a net profit for the year of at least Euro 10 million are expected. These forecasts are subject to the condition that there are no major disruptions in the global economy. Homag Group, the world’s leading manufacturer for plant and machinery for the woodworking industry and for cabinet makers.