Sigma-Aldrich reports record results for 2014

Sigma-Aldrich has announced its financial results for the 2014 business year, during which it achieved a record-breaking sales total of $2.79 billion (1.82 billion pounds).

This represented a year-on-year improvement of three percent, while it was also able to notch a record adjusted diluted earnings per share total of $4.37. This was thanks to the continued strength of its three main divisions – Research, Applied and SAFC.

During the year, the company was able to achieve strong momentum via new product launches and an expanded presence in emerging markets such as China and India, while its Global Supply Chain initiatives and cost-cutting measures have also delivered a positive impact.

Moreover, during the recent World Economic Forum in Davos, Sigma-Aldrich was named by Corporate Knights as the 38th most sustainable corporation in the world, marking the second time in succession that it has been included on this list.

Rakesh Sachdev, Sigma-Aldrich's president and chief executive officer, said: "I am proud of all of our employees. In what has become a very eventful and pivotal year in the history of our company, their hard work and dedication to our customers resulted in another record-breaking year."

The company is in the process of being acquired by the multinational Merck KGaA group, which also owns Merck Serono and Merck Millipore. This takeover will be completed later this year.