BERLIN — Symrise AG said earnings and sales rose last year on strong demand across all divisions and regions, along with a key acquisition.
Net income for the German maker of fragrance, flavors and cosmetic ingredients increased 7.7 percent to 265.9 million euros, or $294.3 million in 2016. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization rose 9.3 percent to 625.2 million euros, or $692 million.
Group sales for Holzminden, Germany-based Symrise reached 2.9 billion euros, or $3.2 billion, an improvement of 11.6 percent.
The company noted an increase of 15 percent in sales to emerging markets, as well as a rise in business in mature markets, thanks to acquisitions including last year’s purchase of U.S.-based Pinova Holdings, a natural ingredients firm.
Sales for Symrise’s Scent & Care division grew 22.1 percent to 1.31 billion euros, or $1.45 billion, boosted by strong gains for the Aroma Molecules unit. Excluding Pinova, Scent & Care sales rose by 2.7 percent. EBIDTA for the division was up 11.5 percent to 239.1 million euros, or $264.7 million.
Dollar figures are converted at average exchange for the period to which they refer.
“For 2017, we remain optimistic despite political changes and tensions in some countries,” Symrise AG chief executive officer Heinz-Jürgen Bertram said in a statement. “We aim at continuing our highly profitable growth course and remain one of the leading companies in our industry.”
The company said it aims to again outperform forecast market growth of 3 percent, and anticipates an EBITDA margin of around 20 percent. At the Symrise annual general meeting scheduled for May 17, its executive board and supervisory board will propose a dividend of 0.85 euros per share (91 cents at current exchange) for fiscal year 2016.