MuM sees recovery continuing

Mensch und Machine, one of Autodesk’s largest resellers in Europe, announced second quarter results today that show a continuing economic recovery — slowly but surely. Total sales for the second quarter (ended June 30) were €45.6 million, up 23% from a year ago, though down from Q1 2010 sales of €51.8 million. In total, revenue for the first half of 2010 was up 14.5% over last year.

The success to date leads MuM to raise its revenue target for the year, to somewhere in the range of €185 million to €190 million (or growth of 13% to 16%).

Why does this matter? Aside from seeing a recovery in the VAR space (always good), MuM’s results tend to be a”canary in the coal mine” for Autodesk. EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) is Autodesk’s largest revenue region, typically around 40% of total revenue. In fiscal 2010, ending in January, Autodesk’s revenue from EMEA declined 33%, so any signs of stabilization or growth in the region are likely to be positive for Autodesk as well. Autodesk’s second quarter ends this week; results should be made public next month.