At WACKER BIOSOLUTIONS, too, sales were substantially higher in 2015, rising 11.9 percent to € 197.1 million (2014: € 176.2 million). Volume growth and favorable exchange-rate effects were the main contributing factors in this growth. The pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals segment, especially pharmaceutical proteins, performed particularly well, posting double-digit sales growth. WACKER BIOSOLUTIONS increased its sales in all regions except Germany. At 26 percent, growth was particularly strong in the rest of Europe. In 2015, we completed the integration of Scil Proteins Production GmbH, based in Halle, Germany.

EBITDA grew faster than sales, rising 36.4 percent to € 32.2 million (2014: € 23.6 million) despite slightly higher energy and raw-material costs. The EBITDA margin climbed to 16.3 percent (2014: 13.4 percent).

Investments were down 26.2 percent year over year and totaled € 6.2 million (2014: € 8.4 million). Employee numbers increased compared with the prior year. As of December 31, 2015, WACKER BIOSOLUTIONS had 491 employees (Dec. 31, 2014: 484).

Key Data: WACKER BIOSOLUTIONS