Nordex: break-even almost reached in Q1 2013 thanks to a substantial surge in sales

Nordex SE / Key word(s): Quarter Results15.05.2013 / 07:33---------------------------------------------------------------------* Sales up around 31% to EUR 259.0 million* Further 5% increase in order intake* Break-even at EBIT level almost reached  in line with budget* Working capital ratio of 12%* Full-year guidance confirmedHamburg, 15 May 2013. The Nordex Group (ISIN: DE000A0D6554) posted a 30.6percent increase in sales to EUR 259.0 million in the first quarter of 2013(previous year: EUR 198.3 million). This performance was underpinned bystrong business in the core European region, which contributed 94% ofsales. On the other hand, business in America contracted by a substantial57.6%, accounting for only 5% of consolidated sales, while Asian businessremained persistently weak.The greater volume of business was also reflected in production andinstallation activity. Thus, Nordex produced 60% more turbines in the firstquarter, completing more than twice the capacity of the same period of theprevious year. This performance together with reduced structural costs inthe United States and China, which had previously operated below capacity,resulted in a substantial improvement in operating earnings. As a result,the loss at EBIT level came to EUR 0.6 million as of 31 March 2013(previous year: loss of EUR 9.0 million) and was therefore fully in linewith budget. The consolidated net loss was reduced by 40% to EUR 8.4million (previous year: loss of EUR 14.0 million).Due to increased purchasing and production activity, the working capitalratio widened to 11.8% (31 December 2012: 8.7%), with cash and cashequivalents declining by 29.3% to EUR 194.2 million (31 December 2012: EUR224.3 million). Net cash outflow from operating activities amounted to EUR60.0 million (Q1/2012: inflow of EUR 34.8 million).Order intake continued to climb in the first three months of 2013. At EUR327.9 million, new business rose by 5%, compared with the high level of thesame period last year (Q1/2012: EUR 312.3 million). This performance wasdriven by sales successes in Northern Europe, particularly in the domesticGerman market, as well as successful marketing of the N117/2400 low-windturbine. Thanks to the best first quarter since 2008, firmly financedorders grew to EUR 1,141 million (previous year: EUR 837 million), thuscreating a solid basis for the company to achieve its full-year salestarget.The Management Board of Nordex SE confirms its forecast for 2013 andexpects a further increase in sales to EUR 1.2 - 1.3 billion (2013: EUR1,075 million). Given slightly weaker capacity utilisation in the firsthalf of the year compared with the second half, management expectsoperating earnings to improve in the final quarters, resulting in afull-year EBIT margin of 2 - 3%.Nordex SERalf PetersTelephone + 49 40 300 30 - 1000rpeters@nordex-online.comEnd of Corporate News---------------------------------------------------------------------15.05.2013 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - acompany of EquityStory AG.The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.DGAP's Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements,Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de---------------------------------------------------------------------Language:    English                                                Company:     Nordex SE                                                           Langenhorner Chaussee 600                                           22419 Hamburg                                                       Germany                                                Phone:       040 / 30030 1000                                       Fax:         040 / 30030 1101                                       E-mail:      info@nordex-online.com                                 Internet:    www.nordex-online.com                                  ISIN:        DE000A0D6554                                           WKN:         A0D655                                                 Indices:     TecDAX                                                 Listed:      Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard);                    Freiverkehr in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover,               München, Stuttgart                                       End of News    DGAP News-Service  ---------------------------------------------------------------------  211152 15.05.2013