BERGISCH-GLADBACH (dpa-AFX) - The investment company Indus Holding grew in the first quarter following portfolio restructuring. Sales climbed by a good eight percent year-on-year to 450.8 million euros, the company announced in Bergisch-Gladbach on Thursday. The latest acquisitions by Indus contributed 1.7 percentage points, while the majority of the growth was achieved by the company's own investments. Operating profit (Ebit) rose in proportion to sales to 44.8 million euros, compared with 41.4 million euros a year earlier. After taxes, the Group increased its earnings to 16 million euros, almost three and a half times the previous year's figure, mainly due to the earnings contribution from discontinued operations.

Indus is realigning itself and intends to dispose of a number of shareholdings in the automotive technology sector. Although the discontinued operations were able to significantly improve their earnings at the start of the year, they remained in the red. Indus intends to dispose of the suppliers Selzer and Schäfer, for which Indus is currently holding talks with interested parties. The Indus board is optimistic that it will be able to complete the sales before the end of the current year, the company added. Indus confirmed its forecast for 2023./tav/stk