STOCKHOLM, April 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- January - March 2024 Order intake increased +32 per cent (+29 organic), with strong growth in all three business areas. AirTech saw good demand, especially in the battery sub-segment in EMEA. Data Center Technologies (DCT) had a solid order intake in North America. FoodTech had a positive development, primarily in Americas and EMEA, slightly offset by APAC. Net sales increased +11 per cent (+7 organic), mainly driven by good deliveries on large orders in DCT. FoodTech had strong growth in Climate solutions in Americas and very strong growth in Digital solutions in the US. AirTech declined, but with growth in Americas, mainly in the battery sub-segment, offset by weaker development in APAC and EMEA. The adj. EBITA margin improved mainly driven by net sales and price increases in DCT and FoodTech as well as efficiency improvement efforts in all business areas. Earnings per share, before and after dilution, was SEK 1.19 (1.18) in the first quarter. Cash flow from operating activities improved mainly because of improved earnings and a reduction in operating working capital. The positive impact on working capital in the quarter was primarily driven by customer advances related to DCT in Americas. Leverage decreased for the third quarter in a row, from 2.1x at the end of December to 2.0x mainly because of increased operating earnings. The AGM in March resolved to pay a total dividend of 1.30 SEK (0.95), a total of MSEK 237 (173) to be paid in two equal instalments. This represented 30 per cent of net income in 2023. A first instalment of the dividend was paid out in March. CEO comments: High demand drives continued strong momentum I'm pleased to report a very strong first quarter of 2024 for Munters. Demand for our innovative climate control solutions remains high, driven by powerful trends like digitalization and electrification. This momentum resulted in another quarter where we achieved significant order intake growth of 32 per cent, driven by robust demand in all business areas. Within AirTech all segments showed stable order intake in the quarter, with positive development especially in the battery sub-segment in EMEA. In DCT order intake increased with very strong underlying demand for energy-efficient cooling solutions. Americas and EMEA were the main contributors to growth in Climate solutions within FoodTech, as well as Digital solutions growing ...