The Wincor Nixdorf Group increased net sales by 12% to €1,602 million in the first three quarters of fiscal 2006/2007 (previous year: €1,435 million). Adjusted for movements in the EUR/USD exchange rate, net sales grew by 14%.

In the third quarter, consolidated net sales amounted to €517 million, which corresponds to growth of 5% compared with the same period a year ago (previous year: €492 million).

The gross margin on net sales before carve-out charges remained largely unchanged at 27.6% in the first three quarters of the fiscal year (previous year: 27.7%).

Research and development expenses rose by €9 million to €70 million in the period under review (previous year: €61 million) and were thus 15% higher than in the same period a year ago. The R&D ratio was 4.4% (previous year: 4.3%).

Calculated in relation to net sales, the selling, general and administration expense ratio dropped by 0.7 percentage points to 14.6% in the reporting period (previous year: 15.3%). In total, selling, general and administration expenses amounted to €234 million (previous year: €219 million).

Earnings before interest, taxes and amortization of product know-how (EBITA) grew by 17% in the first three quarters, thereby climbing to €138 million (previous year: €118 million). The EBITA margin thus improved by 0.4 percentage points to 8.6% (previous year: 8.2%).

Profit for the first nine months rose to €76 million and was thus €17 million, or 29%, higher than the figure posted for the same period a year ago (previous year: €59 million). Profit for the period before carve-out charges grew by 22% to €83 million (previous year: €68 million).