WESEL, Germany/DÜSSELDORF, Germany – The specialty chemicals Group ALTANA increased sales by 5 percent in the 2015 fiscal year, achieving more than €2 billion for the first time. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) reached €391 million, almost on a par with the strong previous year’s level (€397 million). At 19.0 percent, the EBITDA margin was below the previous year’s figure (20.4 percent), but still at a high level.
The sales growth was primarily due to positive exchange rate effects (7 percent) and acquisitions (1 percent). Adjusted for these effects, operating sales in 2015 were 2 percent down and therefore slightly below the strong previous year’s level. “Despite unexpectedly sluggish demand development in some markets, ALTANA remained on track in 2015,“ said Martin Babilas, CEO of ALTANA AG since January 1, 2016. “We are very well positioned for further profitable growth, including growth under our own steam.”