The inventor of Aspirin and polyurethane foams said on Thursday adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) were set to grow in the low- to mid-teens percentage range this year this year, based on the assumption of a positive currency effect of about 2 percent.
Sales from the five most promising among its recently launched drugs, such as Xarelto and eye drug Eylea, would rise to about 4 billion euros ($4.55 billion) this year, up from 2.9 billion in 2014, it added.
Fourth-quarter adjusted EBITDA advanced 4.4 percent to 1.85 billion euros, falling short of the average estimate of 1.93 billion in a Reuters poll, as earnings declined at its plastics unit.
Quarterly net income more than halved to a less-than-expected 224 million euros, dragged lower by borrowing costs for the $14 billion acquisition of Merck & Co. Inc.'s consumer health business it wrapped up in October and interest costs for pension provisions.