COLOGNE, Germany – Specialty chemicals company LANXESS reported a successful fiscal 2015 despite a challenging market environment. EBITDA pre-exceptionals rose by 9.5 percent to €885 million, due to savings achieved by the company’s realignment program, the strong U.S. dollar and volume growth. The operating result was within the recent guidance range of €860 million to €900 million. All segments contributed to the earnings improvement. In 2014, the operating result was €808 million.
The group’s EBITDA margin pre-exceptionals improved from 10.1 percent to 11.2 percent. Net income also increased substantially to €165 million from €47 million. Compared with the prior year, sales remained virtually stable at €7.9 billion (2014: €8.0 billion). Lower selling prices, which were the result of lower raw material prices, were largely compensated by favorable currency effects.