This news article was originally written in Spanish. It has been automatically translated for your convenience. Reasonable efforts have been made to provide an accurate translation, however, no automated translation is perfect nor is it intended to replace a human translator. The original article in Spanish can be viewed at Novartis incrementa sus ventas y beneficios en el primer trimestre del año
Novartis increased its sales and profits in the first quarter of the year
26/04/2004
on April 26, 2004
Novartis recorded in the first quarter of the year net of $ 1,293 billion profit, an increase of 22 percent compared to the same period of 2003.
In a statement, the company also advises that it has decided to accept the offer of the Supervisory Board of Aventis, which has been the subject of a hostile takeover bid from Sanofi-Synthelabo, and negotiate the terms of the eventual transaction. The merger of both companies would emerge the number two world of the sector.
As to the results, the turnover of Novartis totaled the 6.640 million dollars, 16 percent more than in the equivalent period of last year. Growth, higher than expected by analysts, was - above all - the business of pharmacy, whose turnover grew by 19 per cent.
The head of Novartis, Daniel Vasella, welcomed "the very competitive increase the operating profit, as well as the net result". For the full year, Novartis predicts a sharp increase in the number of business and, unless unforeseen, operating and net benefits greater than those recorded last year.
More information: www.novartis.com
