JENA (dpa-AFX) - Technology group Jenoptik has started the new year with a jump in profits thanks to better business, especially in Asia-Pacific and Europe. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (Ebitda) rose by almost three-quarters year-on-year to 36.6 million euros in the first quarter, the company announced in Jena on Thursday. The bottom line was a profit of 11.8 million euros, compared with 2.8 million euros in the same period last year. Sales at the Thuringia-based company climbed by 12.2 percent to 234.1 million euros in the first three months. Jenoptik confirmed its targets for the year.

Jenoptik is again anticipating strong growth for the current year due to good business with the semiconductor industry. In view of the order backlog, sales are expected to increase to 1.05 to 1.10 billion euros. Of this, 19.0 to 19.5 percent should remain as operating profit (Ebitda). In the previous year, the margin was 18.8 percent./mne/stk