Record result in anniversary year
The world's largest family-run industrial gases specialist Messer celebrated its 50th birthday, achieved record results and doubled in size through acquisitions: the company was able to close the 2018 financial year - 120 years after it was founded - with a more than positive balance sheet.
Record result in the industrial gases specialist's anniversary year: Messer's consolidated sales rose by around ten percent from 1.232 billion euros in the previous year to 1.350 billion euros in 2018. At the same time, Messer achieved an E-BITDA of 366 million euros. This corresponds to an increase of around 26 percent compared to the previous year. Messer's businesses in China and Vietnam made a significant contribution to this growth, with an increase in sales of around 27 percent and around 18 percent respectively.
New global markets opened up
The highlight of 2018 was the agreement with Linde and Praxair to take over the businesses in the Americas that had to be sold due to antitrust requirements. In March 2019, Messer and its financial partner CVC Capital Partners acquired the majority of Linde's activities in the USA as well as the entire Linde companies in Brazil, Canada and Colombia and the Chilean company from Praxair. As a result, Messer will double its business volume. "We have entered new business areas and markets, invested in growth and security of supply, and focused on the needs of our customers. This path led us to the best financial year in our company's history so far in 2018," says CEO Stefan Messer.
Investing and acting sustainably
Messer Group GmbH's investments in the financial year 2018 amounted to around €240 million and mainly related to the construction of air separation plants in Vietnam and production facilities in Hungary and China. "Through forward-looking investments, we guarantee our autonomy and independence. In this way, we give our employees, business partners and financial partners long-term security in their cooperation," explains Dr. Uwe Bechtolf, Chief Financial Officer of Messer Group GmbH. In Germany, Messer is building a new production plant for air gases in Speyer and a hydrogen production plant in Castrop-Rauxel.
Messer has been publishing an annual sustainability report since 2014 and voluntarily discloses its key figures in the areas of environmental and climate protection, safety, social commitment, sustainable growth, employee and customer orientation. The report is based on the standards of the international Global Reporting Initiative (GRI).
Source and further information: www.messer.ch
