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Norma Group sales for the first quarter 2013 were within 0.3% of the same period 2012 at 159.7 million euros.
Adjusted operating earnings (EBITA) declined slightly by 2.9% to 28.3 million euros in the first quarter of 2013 (previous year: 29.2 million euros).
“We are pleased that we could maintain stable sales in the first quarter of 2013 compared to previous year´s quarter, given the still uncertain economic development in Europe. The operating margin remains at a consistently high level,” says Werner Deggim, CEO of NORMA Group. The Group’s order backlog as at 31st March 2013 was 229.1 million euros up quarter on quarter (31st December 2012: 215.4 million euros).
Europe, Middle East and Africa regional sales increased slightly in spite of the overall economic situation: up approximately 1.1% to 100.3 million euros, with contributions from the acquisitions of Connectors Verbindungstechnik in Switzerland, Nordic Metalblok in Italy and Groen Bevestigingsmaterialien in the Netherlands in 2012.
American sales were down 7% to 46.7 million euros on the back of the sluggish economic development in the US. Business in the Asia-Pacific region performed well, sales increasing by 19.6% to 12.3 million euros largely as a result of the acquisition of Chien Jin Plastic in 2012 and the takeover of the distribution business of the Australian Davydick in January 2013.
 Norma expects Group sales to grow moderately year on year in 2013 with approximately 20 million euros from 2102/13 acquisitions.