Sanofi signs off on a strong year with further dividend growth
SANOFI celebrated a strong end to a positive 2014 by rewarding shareholders with a proposed dividend of €2.85, making it the 21st consecutive year of dividend growth at the company.
The pharma giant saw robust growth in sales of its key product ranges with sales growth in its Genzyme products recording the biggest increase at 24 per cent for the year to total €2.6bn (£1.94bn).
Overall sales of all products increased by five per cent for the year when adjusted for constant exchange rates to €33.8bn.
Sales growth was geographically uneven, with emerging markets and US growth offsetting weakness in the rest of the world, where increased competition from generic brands has taken its toll, a situation affecting the entire industry.
Net income for the year saw a 2.4 per cent increase on the previous year coming in at €6.8bn.
Interim chief executive and chairman Serge Weinberg said the three month search to replace Christopher Viehbacher, who left the firm in October, was coming to an end with an announcement due at the end of the first quarter.