NORMA Group SE finished the first half of 2014 with record sales and earnings. Group sales in the first six months of the year grew by 9.4% year-on-year to 353 million euros (H1/2013: 322.8 million euros).

Organic growth in the first half of 2014 amounted to 10.3%. Acquisitions contributed 1.8% to the strong sales growth while negative currency effects detracted 2.7%. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes and amortisation (EBITA) improved by 12.2% year-on-year to 63.1 million euros between January and June 2014 (H1/2013: 56.2 million euros). The adjusted EBITA margin expanded by 50 basis points year-on-year to 17.9% in the first half of 2014 and remained at a consistently high level (H1/2013: 17.4%).

"We had a successful first half of 2014 that was in line with our expectations. We could significantly increase sales and earnings," says Werner Deggim, CEO of NORMA Group. "The positive development of the business and the strong organic growth of more than 10% benefited, among other things, from the much improved macroeconomic environment and new productions subsequent to the introduction of the EURO-6 emissions standard in Europe. From September 2014, the latter will also be mandatory for all newly registered diesel and petrol passenger vehicles. We are confident that we will reach the targets we have set for ourselves in financial year 2014."

By 30th June 2014, the order backlog had grown 4.3% year-on-year to 252.1 million euros (H1/2013: 241.8 million euros).

Positive business momentum across all three regions

Sales in the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) region grew by 5.1% year-on-year to 210 million euros in the first half of 2014 (H1/2013: 199.8 million euros). Beyond the macroeconomic recovery, the region also benefited from the introduction of the statutory EURO-6 emissions standard and the related step-up in production of new-generation engines.

The Americas region made a positive contribution in the first half of 2014, inter alia on the back of the pronounced economic recovery in the US. Sales improved by 16% year-on-year to 113.3 million euros (H1/2013: 97.6 million euros).

The Asia-Pacific region generated sales of 29.8 million euros over the first six months of this financial year, which represented a 17.6% increase (H1/2013: 25.3 million euros).