03.10.17
Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, finished 2016 with record figures and continued to grow profitably. Sales and earnings rose significantly. Major strategic advances were made in all three business sectors.
Stefan Oschmann, chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of Merck KGaA, said that 2016 was a successful year for the company.
“In Healthcare, two of our compounds are in registration,” said Oschmann. “In our Life Science business sector, we made rapid progress with the integration of Sigma-Aldrich. We have moved ahead faster and even better than expected with the realization of synergies.
“At the same time, the business generated notable organic growth,” Oschmann added. “With its four strong businesses, Performance Materials showed robustness in a challenging market environment. We maintained our strategically important market leadership in display materials and purposefully drove new technologies forward.”
Net sales of the group increased by 17.0% TO €15.0 billion in 2016. All regions contributed to organic sales growth of 3.2%. The purchase of Sigma-Aldrich was responsible for an acquisition-related sales increase of 16.4%.
The operating result (EBIT) rose by 34.6% to €2.5 billion (2015: € 1.8 billion). EBITDA pre exceptionals, the company’s key earnings indicator, climbed 23.7% to €4.5 billion.
Net financial debt, which mainly stems from the Sigma-Aldrich acquisition, decreased to €11.5 billion at the end of 2016 from €12.7 billion in 2015.
Stefan Oschmann, chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of Merck KGaA, said that 2016 was a successful year for the company.
“In Healthcare, two of our compounds are in registration,” said Oschmann. “In our Life Science business sector, we made rapid progress with the integration of Sigma-Aldrich. We have moved ahead faster and even better than expected with the realization of synergies.
“At the same time, the business generated notable organic growth,” Oschmann added. “With its four strong businesses, Performance Materials showed robustness in a challenging market environment. We maintained our strategically important market leadership in display materials and purposefully drove new technologies forward.”
Net sales of the group increased by 17.0% TO €15.0 billion in 2016. All regions contributed to organic sales growth of 3.2%. The purchase of Sigma-Aldrich was responsible for an acquisition-related sales increase of 16.4%.
The operating result (EBIT) rose by 34.6% to €2.5 billion (2015: € 1.8 billion). EBITDA pre exceptionals, the company’s key earnings indicator, climbed 23.7% to €4.5 billion.
Net financial debt, which mainly stems from the Sigma-Aldrich acquisition, decreased to €11.5 billion at the end of 2016 from €12.7 billion in 2015.
