ELLWANGEN (dpa-AFX) - After a decent third quarter, the struggling battery group Varta sees itself on track to meet its annual targets. According to preliminary figures from Friday, the company generated sales of a good 215 million euros in the months from July to September. This was a good tenth more than a year earlier. Adjusted for special effects, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization amounted to 29.4 million euros, after Varta had been slightly in the red in the same period last year. According to the company, the figures exceeded market expectations. Varta shares turned into the profit zone and recently rose by 5.7 percent. The management confirmed its forecast for the year./men/mis