Merck Revenues Increase by 2.7% to E1.9 Billion

Merck KGaA has announced that group total revenues rose 2.7% in the third quarter to E1,944m from E1,893m in the year-ago quarter. The group’s operating result declined by 28% to E222m in the third quarter. The group return on sales declined to 11.4% in the third quarter compared to 16.3% in the year-ago quarter.

The company’s earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) fell by 28% to E222m in the third quarter compared to E309m in the year-ago quarter. Profit before tax fell 31% to E90m in the third quarter compared to E275m in the year-ago quarter.

For the nine month period, the group recorded a total revenues of E5,699.8m, compared to E5,654.1m for 2008, an increase of 0.8%. The group recorded a decline in the operating results to E604.8m from E989.4 in 2008, a decrease of 38.9%.

EBIT for the group also decreased to E536.0m from E989.4m in 2008, a decease of 45.8%. There was a decrease of 51.5% in profit after tax to E318.2m from E656.7m.

Karl-Ludwig Kley, chairman of Merck, said: “The third-quarter figures are showing improvement compared to the first half of 2009. Even in our chemical businesses, which were substantially impacted by the economic crisis, we see a clear trend toward recovery. We now can say with confidence that Merck will deliver what it promised earlier in the year.”