The Management Board of Villeroy & Boch AG has significantly raised its forecast for the financial year 2020. It now expects an operating result (EBIT) of 30 million - 35 million. The previously communicated target was to compensate for the losses of the 1st half of the financial year caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in the 2nd half and to achieve a positive operating result. Thanks to stringent cost management since the beginning of the COVID 19 pandemic and a significantly improved sales performance in the 3rd quarter, which was even higher than in the previous year, this target was achieved earlier than planned. The Management Board expects the positive sales trend to continue in the traditionally strong 4th quarter and to be able to close the fiscal year with total sales revenues of at most 6% below the previous year. The new forecast is based on the assumption that there will be no further significant measures by governments to contain the pandemic and associated negative effects on the economy.