Lonza bucks the trend
The specialty chemicals group, Lonza, says its first half-net profit rose nine per cent and that it expects earnings for the year as a whole to outstrip those in 2000.
The group’s earnings rose to SFr153 million ($88.44 million) on the back of stronger sales, which increased by 15 per cent to SFr912 million.
“Despite the continued weakening of the world economy and under the provision that no new negative factors influence the business, the group is convinced it will surpass the results of 2000,” said a company statement.
The company also said it planned to sell its energy and polymer intermediates businesses and that talks about the sale of its energy units were well advanced.
Lonza split from the Algroup in November 1999 ahead of the merger with Canada’s Alcan group.
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