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FUCHS increases EBIT to EUR 72.5 million in the first three months of 2012

- Sales revenues and earnings increased again - Earnings before interest and tax up 7.6% to EUR 72.5 million - Positive outlook for 2012

The first three months 2012 at a glance

(Amounts in EUR million)1-3/20121-3/2011(2) Sales revenues (1)448.4403.8 Europe263.5247.0 Asia-Pacific, Africa118.999.6 North and South America79.868.9 Consolidation-13.8-11.7 Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT)72.567.4 Profit after tax51.547.1 Earnings per share in EUR Ordinary share0.720.65 Preference share0.730.66 Gross cash flow53.350.7 Capital expenditures22.36.5 Employees (as at March 31)3,7223,594

(1) By company location (2) The previous years figures have been adjusted for reasons of comparability, see changes in the accounting policies in the notes to the consolidated financial statements.

Performance The FUCHS PETROLUB Group increased its sales revenues in all regions in the first quarter of 2012. Sales volumes enjoyed a particular increase in North America, Australia and Eastern Europe. Exchange rate movements also resulted in further growth of EUR 9.2 million or 2.3%. In addition to this, all regions recorded price and mix-related increases in sales revenues. This led to organic growth of EUR 35.0 million or 8.7%. Total revenues of EUR 448.4 million (403.8) were recorded, which represents an increase of 11.0% over the same quarter of the previous year.

In the first three months of the year, gross profit increased by EUR 9.6 million or 6.3% to EUR 161.9 million (152.3). The significant increases in raw material prices observed during the course of 2011 were a key contributor to the increases in sales revenues. The material and production costs for our lubricants (cost of sales) increased above-average by 13.9%. The Group was able to compensate for inflation-based increases in personnel and other direct costs, and also managed to cover the additional personal and infrastructure costs caused by its growth initiative. Total expenses for selling, distribution, administration and research and development increased by EUR 6.9 million or 8.1% to EUR 92.2 million (85.3).

Taking into account income from participations, this leads to earnings before interest and taxes of EUR 72.5 million. This represents EUR 5.1 million or 7.6% more than the record set in the first three months of 2011 (67.4). Earnings after taxes rose at a disproportionately high rate of 9.3% to EUR 51.5 million (47.1). Earnings per share increased to EUR 0.72 (0.65) per ordinary share and EUR 0.73 (0.66) per preference share.

Capital expenditures Investments in property, plant and equipment and intangible assets were EUR 12.2 million (6.5) in the first quarter of 2012. The primary focuses in this regard were the completion of our new research and development center in Mannheim, construction of a new facility in Russia and the modernization of our US production facility in Chicago.

The Group spent a further EUR 10.1 million in its investments in companies consolidated using the equity method. This allowed the acquisition of an automotive lubricants business at the start of 2012 to be partially financed by the Groups joint venture in Turkey.

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DGAP-News: FUCHS increases EBIT to EUR 72.5 million in the first three months of 2012

(PRWEB) April 30, 2012

CRG emPerform, a leading provider of online employee performance management software, has teamed up with HR.com and a panel of industry experts to present a dynamic webinar on Wednesday, June 13th, 2012 on The F-Word: The Challenges and Opportunities of Tackling Performance Feedback. In this webinar, panelists Marnie Green (Management Education Group), William Tincup (Tincup & Co.), and Elisabeth Lecavalier (Forensic Technology) will weigh in on the overlooked importance of effective performance feedback and will offer best-practice approaches and practical concepts you can use to exploit the F-Word in your organization.

A big part of managing employee performance is giving effective performance feedback. The trouble with the traditional performance appraisal process is that feedback comes too late, from too few sources, rarely or often not at all. Once-a-year feedback isn't enough to properly develop and recognize employees and engage them to excel in their role.

Making the most of ongoing performance feedback requires a clear understanding of why feedback is essential, why it is often mishandled, what opportunities exist and how you can use fresh & modern approaches to bring a tired performance-management process back to life and unleash the power of the F-Word.

During this webinar, the panel of experts will provide leading-edge insight into:

Date: Wednesday, June 13th, 2012 Time: 11AM 12PM EDT Click here to register for this webinar

*Registration for this webinar is on the HR.com website. If you are already a member of HR.com, please login to register for the webcast. If you are not a member of HR.com, you will need to sign up for a FREE HR.com membership before registering.

emPerform is no stranger to online events. They continue to host successful live webinars through organizations such as HCI.org, IHRIM, and HR.com, including their most recent webinar, The Secrets Behind Personality Testing. Past webinars have been archived and are available for download on the employee-performance.com website.

About CRG emPerform

CRG emPerform is an easy-to-use, online Performance Management solution. This all-in-one suite includes robust functionality to simplify and automate core talent management processes; including: performance appraisals, compensation management, 360 reviews, succession planning, reporting, and introducing emPerform-tag - revolutionary functionality for capturing real-time performance feedback that can be archived, accessed and used directly within emPerform's online appraisal forms. CRG emPerform has a diverse customer base within sectors that include professional services, not for profits, healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, hospitality and public sector. For more information regarding CRG emPerform, visit: http://www.employee-performance.com

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The F-Word: Tackling Employee Performance FEEDBACK - New CRG emPerform Webinar

MIRI: The Sarawak United Peoples Party (SUPP) has not made a decision yet to publicly announce its candidates for Stampin, Lanang, Miri and Sibu for the coming parliamentary elections.

SUPP president Datuk Seri Peter Chin said yesterday that the names would be submitted to Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and the BN Supreme Council for endorsement before being revealed to the public.

The party leadership had decided that it was best not to reveal the proposed candidates to the public as yet, even though the names proposed for Bandar Kuching, Serian and Sarikei were disclosed recently, he said.

Yesterday was the deadline for the submission of names of candidates as directed by Barisan national secretariat.

Yesterday, Chin, who is incumbent Miri MP and Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water, also declined to confirm whether his name was on the list.

SUPP will comply with the directive from the BN secretary-general on the deadline for the submission of the candidates list, he said at the press conference at SUPP Miri headquarters.

However, we will not announce the names as yet until the time is right. Doing it now is too early because thegeneral election may not be so soon.

Furthermore, the names we have proposed might not be the final ones. The top leaders might see the need for changes.

Chin said the Barisan component parties were expected to meet at the national level to discuss details concerning their constituencies and candidates.

He said Barisan had complete confidence that its component parties would identify the most winnable candidates.

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No word yet on four SUPP candidates

INDIANAPOLIS - Forget the comparisons, the predecessor and the hype. Andrew Luck can't wait to start playing football in Indianapolis.

Less than 90 minutes after officially becoming Peyton Manning's successor, Luck promised to do everything he could to turn around a storied franchise that started last year with Super Bowl aspirations and wound up with the No. 1 pick, largely because Manning couldn't play.

At least Indy was lucky enough to get what many expect to be the next big thing.

"I realize you could go crazy trying to measure yourself to Peyton Manning every day. That would be an insane way to live," Luck told local reporters during a conference call. "I know his legendary status, really. He was my hero growing up. Huge shoes to try and fill if you're trying to do that. I'll just put my best foot forward and work hard every day. If one day I can be mentioned alongside Peyton as one of the football greats, that would be a football dream come true."

Indy believes he can make it happen.

Fourteen years after taking Manning with the top overall selection and 29 years after using the draft's No. 1 pick on another Stanford quarterback, John Elway, the Colts chose a player scouts have touted as the most NFL-ready quarterback to come out of college since those two.

A week ago, Colts general manager Ryan Grigson said the Colts had made up their minds about whether to take Heisman winner Robert Griffin III or Luck, the Heisman runner-up. The next day, The Associated Press learned Luck would be the selection and new general manager Ryan Grigson confirmed it Tuesday.

The Colts were so prepared they had NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell hand Luck a No. 12 jersey with his name stitched on the back -- a number that had been worn by receiver Quan Cosby as recently as Thursday morning's mini-camp workout.

"It's a new era, it's a new beginning," Grigson said. "Really, it's exciting and we got our guy. He's the one we feel is going to take us where we want to go with this thing. He shares the same vision that we all do, so we're excited."

What the Colts are actually getting is a younger, cheaper version of Manning.

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He's No. 1: Indianapolis follows through on word by taking Andrew Luck with top draft choice

Soon after Joel Ward's Washington Capitals teammates swarmed him after his game-winning goal in overtime of Game 7 against the Boston Bruins on Wednesday, a number of people unleashed racial comments about Ward on Twitter. Ward, one of the few black players in the NHL, was called the N-word in a number of posts. According to CNN, Chirpstory, a site that can aggregate other people's Twitter posts, noted the posts, included the following: --- "Haha that (slur) actually did something." --- "The fact that a (slur) got the goal makes it ten times worse." --- "We lost ... To a hockey playing (slur).... What kind of (expletive) is this." Ward, 31, told USA Today that he had never heard racist remarks during his four years in the NHL, and he was not aware of the comments and until teammate Jeff Halpern told him. He said the comments were "shocking to see, but it didn't ruin my day." "The racially charged comments distributed via digital media following last night's game were ignorant and unacceptable," the NHL said in a statement Thursday. "The people responsible for these comments have no place associating themselves with our game." In their statement, the Bruins called the Tweets "classless, ignorant views are in no way a reflection of anyone associated with the Bruins organization." Capitals owner Ted Leonsis was more outspoken in his comments in his blog. "What these people have said and done is unforgivable. I hope they are now publicly identified and pay a huge price for their beliefs," he said. "There should be zero tolerance for this kind of hate mongering. We will as an organization support Joel Ward. He has been a great teammate and a great citizen. "He is now the star of stars in our city for his heroics (Wednesday) night. He is a friend and a fantastic player -- who delivered -- as advertised for us and our fans in the playoffs." -- Boston's Zdeno Chara, Ottawa's Erik Karlsson and Nashville's Shea Weber were named finalists for the Norris Trophy, which is awarded to the league's top defenseman. The winner will be announced at the NHL awards ceremony June 20 in Las Vegas. COLLEGE BASKETBALL ---Former Syracuse associate head coach Bernie Fine has landed a job with a team in the Israeli Basketball Super League. Maccabi Bazan Haifa announced Thursday that Fine will serve as a basketball consultant for the team. This is Fine's first employment since he was fired in November amid sexual molestation charges. Fine will offer input on player personnel decisions, and assist in team's coaching search for next season, though he will remain in the United States. ---Illinois State coach Tim Jankovich has agreed to follow Larry Brown at SMU. Jankovich accepted a coach-in-waiting position at the school, a source with direct knowledge told ESPN.com Thursday. He's expected to earn about $700,000 per year, the source said, and there is no timetable on when he would become head coach. COLLEGE FOOTBALL ---While conference commissioners continue to develop a 2014 playoff structure for college football, the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics has proposed a way to distribute the hundreds of million dollars in new BCS media rights revenue. CBSSports.com obtained a copy of the Knight Commission's report, which suggests rewarding individual schools -- not the conferences -- based on academic standards, rather than on-field performance or market value. The proposal was sent to the 11 Football Bowl Subdivision commissioners, BCS executive director Bill Hancock and the FBS presidents. --- Weber State has named Jody Sears as its interim football coach to replace John L. Smith, who was named the Wildcats' head coach after the 2011 season but left earlier this month to become the interim head coach at Arkansas. Sears joined the Wildcats staff this spring as defensive coordinator and will continue in that role as well. NBA ---Reigning MVP Derrick Rose is also the most popular name when it comes to jersey sales. The Chicago Bulls point guard has the top-selling jersey at the NBA Store and nbastore.com since April 2011, the league announced Thursday. New York Knicks guard Jeremy Lin came in at No. 2, despite the fact that his merchandise wasn't available until his February breakthrough. Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant was third and the Miami Heat's LeBron James came in fourth. New York's Carmelo Anthony rounded out the top five.

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Press Box: Racial comments directed at Capitals' Ward through Twitter