Altana said it has concluded the business year 2009 with noticeably lower sales and earnings figures compared to the prior year due to the effects of the economic crisis. Despite a pronounced upturn in business in the second half of the year, sales declined to €1,182 million, following €1,342 million in 2008, which is a decrease of 12%. Adjusted for positive exchange rate as well as acquisition effects, the operating sales decrease was 15%. On account of the worldwide economic crisis, sales in all regions remained below the figures of the previous year; in some regions the losses were quite pronounced. At 17%, the highest decline was recorded in Europe, followed by North and South America with a drop of 12%. The Asian region was comparatively stable, with a sales decrease of only 2% for the full year. Here, Altana was able to achieve significant growth rates in the second half of 2009, particularly in China.
The BYK Additives & Instruments division achieved sales of €420 million in 2009, corresponding to a decrease of about 7% on the prior year. In the Eckart Effect Pigments division, sales dropped by 20% from €351 million in 2008 to €282 million in 2009. Sales in the Elantas Electrical Insulation division in 2009 amounted to €273 million; this is a decrease of 16% compared to 2008 (€327 million). Actega Coatings & Sealants achieved sales of €207 million in 2009, which is only slightly below the 2008 figure (€214 million).
On account of the decline in sales, preliminary earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (Ebitda) in the business year 2009 decreased by 16% to €204 million. At 17.3% (prior year: 18.1%), the Ebitda margin was down by only about 1 percentage point. This was mainly due to the immediate and comprehensively taken countermeasures to reduce costs and increase efficiency, which led to savings of about €55 million in the past business year.
