BESSENBACH (dpa-AFX) - Commercial vehicle supplier SAF-Holland is becoming slightly more optimistic for the full year after a strong first quarter. Sales in 2023 should tend to be around the upper end of the previously planned range of 1.8 to 1.95 billion euros, the SDax-listed company announced in Bessenbach on Thursday evening. The Group's adjusted EBIT margin is still expected to be around 7.5 to 8.5 percent, it added.

According to preliminary calculations, sales in the first quarter increased by almost 30 percent to 480.4 million euros. This includes the acquisition of Haldex from February 21. Organically, sales growth was 10.8 percent. The drivers were the Americas and the Apac region (Asia, Pacific, India). Thanks to savings, adjusted earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) increased by 84.6 percent to 43.4 million euros. The adjusted Ebit margin rose to 9.0 percent (previous year 6.4). Underneath the knit, profit increased by 49 percent to 19.5 million euros. The key figures were above market expectations.

According to SAF-Holland, the recent cyberattack led to a temporary loss of sales totaling around 40 million euros. Of this, around 15 million euros were attributable to the first quarter, it said. The supplier continues to assume that most of the lost sales will be made up. As a result of the cyberattack, one-time special expenses for IT, security and consulting services in the low single-digit million range are expected. These will largely be incurred in the second quarter, the statement added./jha/he