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Feb. 28, 2023 Source: Bayer news release Leverkusen, February 28, 2023 - The Bayer Group achieved strong growth last year, posting significantly higher sales and earnings. "2022 was a very successful year for Bayer despite the challenging environment. We were able to deliver, even during these difficult times, and met the upgraded financial targets we set in August," said Werner Baumann, Chairman of the Board of Management, at the company's Financial News Conference on Tuesday. The company is active in the right fields, he said. "Health and nutrition are fundamental human needs. Our vision of Health for all, hunger for none is and will remain vitally important, especially in times like these." Group sales came in at 50.739 billion euros in 2022, up 8.7 percent on a currency- and portfolio-adjusted basis (Fx & portfolio adj.). EBITDA before special items rose by 20.9 percent to 13.513 billion euros, and included a positive currency effect of 429 million euros (2021: negative currency effect of 507 million euros). The EBITDA margin before special items increased to 26.6 percent (2021: 25.4 percent). EBIT amounted to 7.012 billion euros, and was therefore more than twice as high as in the previous year. Net income came in at 4.150 billion euros (2021: 1.000 billion euros), while core earnings per share rose by 22.0 percent to 7.94 euros. Free cash flow more than doubled against the prior year, rising to 3.111 billion euros. Net financial debt amounted to 31.809 billion euros as of December 31, 2022, down 4.0 percent from year-end 2021. Cash inflows from operating activities and the sale of the Environmental Science Professional business were partially offset by cash outflows for dividends and negative currency effects. "These are very good results. Together with the Supervisory Board, we are therefore proposing a dividend of 2.40 euros to the Annual Stockholders' Meeting. This represents a 20 percent increase compared to the previous year," said Chief Financial Officer Wolfgang Nickl. With 982.42 million shares entitled to the dividend, the company is therefore set to distribute a total of 2.358 billion euros to stockholders for fiscal 2022 (fiscal 2021: 1.965 billion euros). Crop Science achieves record sales and industry-leading margin Sales in the agricultural business (Crop Science) advanced by 15.6 percent (Fx & portfolio adj.) to a record 25.169 billion euros, with business up in all regions. Growth was strongest at Herbicides (Fx & portfolio adj. 43.9 percent), which saw sales rise in Latin and North America and in Europe/Middle East/Africa in particular thanks to higher prices, as supply for glyphosate-based products was tight. Sales at Corn Seed & Traits rose 8.8 percent (Fx & portfolio adj.) as the division increased its market share. Price increases in all regions more than offset a decrease in acreages in North America and lower license revenues. Sales at Fungicides were up 5.2 percent (Fx & portfolio adj.), with higher prices in the Latin America and Europe/Middle East/Africa regions in particular more than offsetting a decline in volumes in North America. Sales at Soybean Seed & Traits were level with the prior year, with business growing in Latin America but declining in North America due to lower volumes. EBITDA before special items at Crop Science advanced by 46.2 percent to 6.867 billion euros, mainly due to the significant increase in sales. Earnings also benefited from contributions from ongoing efficiency programs and a positive currency effect of 284 million euros (2021: negative currency effect of 387 million euros). By contrast, earnings were mainly diminished by an increase in the cost of goods sold, which was primarily due to high inflation. The EBITDA margin before special items increased by 4.1 percentage points to an industry-leading 27.3 percent. To read the entire report click here. Tweet |
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