Melsungen, Germany. The B. Braun Group closed fiscal year 2019 with total sales of € 7,471.3 million (previous year: € 6,908.1 million). Sales increased by 8.2 percent over the previous year. "2019 was a challenging year in which we were very successful in placing our products and services on the market," said CEO Anna Maria Braun during a virtual press conference in Melsungen on Friday, March 27. She presented the figures together with Chief Financial Officer Dr. Annette Beller. 

The EBITDA amounted to € 1,079.1 million (previous year: € 952.5 million), profit before taxes (adjusted) was € 400.2 million (previous year: € 451.6million). “Our profitability in 2019 was in line with expectations”, said Braun. It was hampered by start-up costs for new plants, as well as higher production costs at locations in the USA and Germany, mainly due to increasing regulatory requirements. “We want to use digital technologies to make products and therapies safer, but we also to become more efficient in internal processes," the CEO continued. "We want to shape the future of the company with innovation, efficiency and sustainability in order to continue to protect and improve the health of people around the world.”

All divisions contributed to this growth in sales. The Hospital Care division increased sales 6.8% to € 3,343.0 million (previous year: € 3,131.1 million). From a product perspective, the sales of automated infusion systems, the preparation of patient-specific nutritional solutions and the area of parenteral nutrition were the main contributors to this increase.

In the reporting year, the Aesculap division reported sales of € 1,968.2 million (previous year: € 1,824.4 million), up 7.9% on the previous year. All business segments contributed to the overall growth. In particular, the interventional therapy and sterile goods management business units recorded strong growth, supported by dynamic development in the spinal surgery, neurosurgery and laparoscopy segments. 

The Out Patient Market division reported sales of € 917.3 million (previous year: € 840.9 million), for an increase of 9.1% over the previous year. The hygiene management sector and basic care segments saw strong growth, and urologic care and wound treatment products also achieved significant sales.

Sales in the B. Braun Avitum division increased by 11.8% in the reporting year to € 1,210.1 million (previous year: € 1,082.3 million). The export business in particular contributed to the significant increase in product business. The B. Braun renal care centers continued to see good performance. Treatment for over 33,000 patients was provided in more than 380 centers in Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and South Africa. 

Growth in specific regions
In Germany, performance was stable, with a growth rate of 3.9%, and B. Braun continued to assert itself in a highly competitive market. In Europe (excluding Germany) the Group achieved good sales growth at +6%. B. Braun increased sales 10.5% at constant exchange rates in the Asia-Pacific region. The Latin America region increased sales in local currencies by 9.1%. B. Braun sales in North America were considerably above the previous year, at +13.4% in the reporting currency, but the region also grew well in US dollars, at 7.5%. In the Africa and Middle East region, our growth in local currencies was 12.8%. 

Investments continue at a high level
In the 2019 fiscal year, B. Braun invested € 1,259 million in the expansion or replacement of production facilities and in research and development. For example, by rebuilding our site in Berlin, automating the production of sutures in Spain and expanding the production capacity of continence care products in France. B. Braun continued the investment program in the U.S. and expanded the network of renal care centers.

More than 64.000 employees worldwide
As of December 31, 2019, the B. Braun Group employed 64,585 people, 1.6 percent more than in the previous year (63,571). In Germany, 15,828 people were working for B. Braun at the end of the year (+0.9 percent). The additional jobs were primarily created in new or expanded production facilities, but the B. Braun family also grew through acquisitions and the establishment of sales companies and renal care centers. Good training is essential for the future of the company. At its German locations, B. Braun is currently training 802 young people in 26 different professions. 91 apprentices are attending a university or university of cooperative education in addition to their training. Besides Germany, B. Braun trains a total of 303 young people in Brazil, Malaysia, Poland, Switzerland and Vietnam. "Our company thrives on the diversity of our employees. This diversity makes us strong and secures the future of B. Braun," says the CEO.

Please visit www.bbraun.com/ar2019 for more information about fiscal year 2019.