Operating Activities

(8) Segment Reporting

Accounting and measurement policies

Segment reporting

The Group’s business activities are broken down into the three operational business sectors of Life Science, Healthcare and Electronics, as well as the central Group functions. This segment structure reflects the internal organizational and reporting structure. The Life Science business sector encompasses business with tools, chemicals and equipment for academic labs, biotech and pharmaceutical manufacturers, as well as the industrial sector. The Healthcare business sector discovers, develops, manufactures and markets prescription drugs and biopharmaceuticals. The Electronics business sector supplies materials for the semiconductor and display industries and surface design. The three business sectors differ in terms of their products and services, their customers, their sales structures and processes, and the regulatory environment in which they operate. However, the activities that are bundled in each individual business sector are extremely similar in terms of these criteria. The central Group functions also encompass service activities that are the same for all business sectors, such as procurement and human resources, as well as other central Group functions that are not allocated to any of the business sectors. Resource allocation and the assessment of business development are performed at the level of the business sectors by the Executive Board of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, as the chief operating decision-maker.

In addition to the direct activities of the central Group functions, “Corporate and Other” includes income and expenses, assets and liabilities, as well as cash flows that cannot be allocated to the reportable segments as they are managed at Group level in central Group functions. This relates in particular to expenses and income for the foreign currency hedging of transactions in operating business, financial expenses and financial income, which include interest expenses and interest income as well as income tax expenses and income. Financial liabilities, pension provisions as well as income tax assets and liabilities are also allocated to “Corporate and Other”. Moreover, the column serves as the reconciliation to the Group figures.

Apart from net sales, the success of a segment is mainly determined by EBITDA pre (segment result). EBITDA pre is a key figure that is not defined by International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). However, it represents the most important variable used to steer the Group. To permit a better understanding of operational performance, EBITDA pre excludes depreciation and amortization, impairment losses and reversals of impairment losses in addition to specific adjustments presented below.

The segment data is derived from the financial information, which is based on the IFRSs applied in the consolidated financial statements. Transfer prices for intragroup net sales were determined on an arm’s-length basis for all of the business sectors. Fixed assets are allocated to the segments based on the degree of utilization. Depreciation expenses are allocated on the same basis. Fixed assets are always recognized by the buyer at the amortized Group cost following intragroup transactions. Services performed by the Group functions are allocated on the basis of planning data. Any deviations in the actual costs incurred are not allocated to the reportable operating segments but continue to be recognized in the “Corporate and Other” column.

Information by business sector – 2024

€ million

 

Life Science

 

Healthcare

 

Electronics

 

Total of reportable operating segments

 

Corporate and Other

 

Group

Net sales1

 

8,916

 

8,455

 

3,785

 

21,156

 

 

21,156

Intersegment sales

 

91

 

 

 

91

 

-91

 

Cost of sales

 

-4,150

 

-2,201

 

-2,319

 

-8,670

 

-1

 

-8,671

Marketing and selling expenses

 

-2,238

 

-1,713

 

-568

 

-4,519

 

-18

 

-4,536

Administration expenses

 

-441

 

-313

 

-166

 

-919

 

-450

 

-1,370

Research and development costs

 

-388

 

-1,503

 

-297

 

-2,187

 

-92

 

-2,279

Operating result (EBIT)2

 

1,507

 

2,481

 

360

 

4,347

 

-702

 

3,645

Depreciation

 

862

 

331

 

498

 

1,690

 

116

 

1,806

Impairment losses3

 

87

 

209

 

29

 

325

 

3

 

328

Reversals of impairment losses

 

 

 

 

 

 

EBITDA4

 

2,455

 

3,021

 

887

 

6,362

 

-584

 

5,779

Adjustments2

 

134

 

-26

 

83

 

191

 

102

 

293

EBITDA pre (segment result)2

 

2,589

 

2,995

 

970

 

6,553

 

-482

 

6,072

EBITDA pre margin (in % of net sales)2

 

29.0%

 

35.4%

 

25.6%

 

 

 

28.7%

Assets by business sector

 

25,206

 

8,620

 

10,748

 

44,575

 

6,992

 

51,567

Liabilities by business sector

 

-1,901

 

-2,858

 

-653

 

-5,412

 

-16,168

 

-21,579

Investments in property, plant and equipment5

 

858

 

302

 

396

 

1,556

 

146

 

1,702

Investments in intangible assets5

 

44

 

348

 

43

 

435

 

47

 

482

Non-cash changes in provisions5,6

 

95

 

150

 

95

 

339

 

42

 

381

1

Excluding intersegment sales.

2

Not defined by International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

3

Without impairments on financial assets and inventories.

4

Not defined by International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS); EBITDA corresponds to operating result (EBIT) adjusted by depreciation, amortization, impairment losses, and reversals of impairment losses.

5

According to the consolidated cash flow statement.

6

Excluding provisions for pensions and other post-employment benefits.

Information by business sector – 2023

€ million

 

Life Science

 

Healthcare

 

Electronics

 

Total of reportable operating segments

 

Corporate and Other

 

Group

Net sales1

 

9,281

 

8,053

 

3,659

 

20,993

 

 

20,993

Intersegment sales

 

77

 

 

 

77

 

-77

 

Cost of sales

 

-4,236

 

-2,029

 

-2,332

 

-8,597

 

-3

 

-8,600

Marketing and selling expenses

 

-2,245

 

-1,668

 

-591

 

-4,503

 

-7

 

-4,510

Administration expenses

 

-425

 

-314

 

-147

 

-886

 

-506

 

-1,392

Research and development costs

 

-396

 

-1,657

 

-297

 

-2,351

 

-94

 

-2,445

Operating result (EBIT)2

 

1,850

 

2,225

 

248

 

4,322

 

-713

 

3,609

Depreciation

 

848

 

299

 

526

 

1,673

 

109

 

1,782

Impairment losses3

 

34

 

27

 

42

 

103

 

1

 

104

Reversals of impairment losses

 

 

-6

 

 

-6

 

 

-6

EBITDA4

 

2,731

 

2,545

 

816

 

6,092

 

-603

 

5,489

Adjustments2

 

88

 

-1

 

97

 

184

 

206

 

390

EBITDA pre (segment result)2

 

2,820

 

2,543

 

913

 

6,276

 

-397

 

5,879

EBITDA pre margin (in % of net sales)2

 

30.4%

 

31.6%

 

25.0%

 

 

 

28.0%

Assets by business sector

 

23,476

 

8,522

 

10,275

 

42,273

 

6,222

 

48,495

Liabilities by business sector

 

-1,843

 

-3,146

 

-636

 

-5,626

 

-16,115

 

-21,741

Investments in property, plant and equipment5

 

953

 

316

 

394

 

1,663

 

145

 

1,807

Investments in intangible assets5

 

54

 

69

 

58

 

181

 

35

 

216

Non-cash changes in provisions5,6

 

33

 

94

 

100

 

227

 

154

 

381

1

Excluding intersegment sales.

2

Not defined by International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

3

Without impairments on financial assets and inventories.

4

Not defined by International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS); EBITDA corresponds to operating result (EBIT) adjusted by depreciation, amortization, impairment losses, and reversals of impairment losses.

5

According to the consolidated cash flow statement.

6

Excluding provisions for pensions and other post-employment benefits.

Information by country and region – 2024

€ million

 

Europe

 

thereof: Germany

 

thereof: Switzerland

 

North America

 

thereof: USA

 

Asia-Pacific

 

thereof: China

 

Latin America

 

Middle East and Africa

 

Group

Net sales by customer location1

 

6,171

 

1,002

 

389

 

5,710

 

5,426

 

7,017

 

2,864

 

1,477

 

781

 

21,156

Net sales by company location1

 

6,506

 

1,411

 

594

 

5,915

 

5,652

 

6,719

 

2,580

 

1,427

 

590

 

21,156

Goodwill and other intangible assets2

 

5,056

 

1,539

 

1,772

 

19,997

 

19,987

 

380

 

42

 

1

 

 

25,434

Property, plant and equipment

 

5,182

 

2,439

 

1,070

 

3,083

 

3,078

 

1,489

 

478

 

201

 

71

 

10,025

Research and development costs

 

-1,835

 

-1,062

 

-619

 

-355

 

-353

 

-58

 

-25

 

-21

 

-10

 

-2,279

Number of employees3

 

28,138

 

13,236

 

2,632

 

14,187

 

13,976

 

15,593

 

4,369

 

3,502

 

1,137

 

62,557

1

Excluding intersegment sales.

2

Goodwill and other intangible assets are allocated by currency area.

3

The number of employees includes all employees employed in fully consolidated subsidiaries with the exception of the employees of HUB Organoids Holding B.V., Netherlands, whose acquisition was completed on December 23, 2024 (see note (6) “Acquisitions und Divestments“)

Information by country and region – 2023

€ million

 

Europe

 

thereof: Germany

 

thereof: Switzerland

 

North America

 

thereof: USA

 

Asia-Pacific

 

thereof: China

 

Latin America

 

Middle East and Africa

 

Group

Net sales by customer location1

 

6,037

 

1,000

 

369

 

5,952

 

5,632

 

6,936

 

2,708

 

1,331

 

737

 

20,993

Net sales by company location1

 

6,334

 

1,420

 

512

 

6,198

 

5,911

 

6,658

 

2,477

 

1,267

 

535

 

20,993

Goodwill and other intangible assets2

 

5,121

 

1,783

 

1,780

 

18,794

 

18,783

 

480

 

47

 

2

 

 

24,396

Property, plant and equipment

 

4,878

 

2,215

 

1,097

 

2,576

 

2,571

 

1,315

 

444

 

225

 

62

 

9,056

Research and development costs

 

-2,004

 

-1,042

 

-827

 

-349

 

-348

 

-63

 

-25

 

-18

 

-11

 

-2,445

Number of employees

 

28,304

 

13,531

 

2,648

 

14,718

 

14,496

 

15,259

 

4,433

 

3,458

 

1,169

 

62,908

1

Excluding intersegment sales.

2

Goodwill and other intangible assets are allocated by currency area.

No single customer accounted for more than 10% of the Group’s total net sales in fiscal 2024 or 2023.

The following table presents the reconciliation of segment results of all operating businesses to the profit before income tax of the Group:

Reconciliation of segment results to the profit before income tax

€ million

 

2024

 

2023

EBITDA pre of the operating businesses1

 

6,553

 

6,276

Corporate and Other

 

-482

 

-397

EBITDA pre of the Group1

 

6,072

 

5,879

Depreciation/amortization/impairment losses/reversals of impairment losses

 

-2,134

 

-1,880

Adjustments1

 

-293

 

-390

Operating result (EBIT)1

 

3,645

 

3,609

Financial result

 

-108

 

-125

Profit before income tax

 

3,536

 

3,484

1

Not defined by International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Please refer to the following table for the components of the adjustments.

The adjustments comprised the following:

Adjustments in the operating result

€ million

 

2024

 

2023

Restructuring expenses

 

-144

 

-249

Integration expenses/IT expenses

 

-103

 

-118

Gains (+)/losses (-) on the divestment of businesses

 

46

 

51

Acquisition-related adjustments

 

-26

 

-18

Other adjustments

 

-68

 

-56

Adjustments before impairment losses/reversals of impairment losses1

 

-293

 

-390

Impairment losses2

 

-277

 

-88

Reversals of impairment losses

 

 

1

Adjustments (total)1

 

-570

 

-477

1

Not defined by International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

2

Without impairments on financial assets and inventories.

Restructuring expenses in fiscal 2024 primarily related to a program to improve efficiency in the Life Science business sector (€ 46 million; 2023: € 19 million) and a program to further improve processes and align the Group functions more closely with the businesses (€ 41 million; 2023: € 126 million; see Note (27) “Other provisions”).

As in the previous year, integration and IT expenses in fiscal 2024 related to expenses for the enhancement of ERP systems.

As in the previous year, gains on the divestment of businesses were due in particular to a revaluation following the achievement of milestones in connection with the biosimilars business that was sold to a subsidiary of Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA, Bad Homburg vor der Höhe, in 2017; see Note (43) “Information on fair value measurement”.

Other adjustments include the losses on the net position of monetary assets and liabilities resulting from hyperinflationary accounting in Argentina and Türkiye, which are reported in other operating expenses (see Note (2) “Reporting principles” and Note (14) “Other operating expenses”).

Impairment losses considered as adjustments related to intangible assets in the amount of € 194 million (2023: € 65 million), particularly in the Healthcare and Life Science business sectors, see Note (14) “Other operating expenses” and Note (19) “Other intangible assets”), as well as to property, plant and equipment in the amount of € 83 million (2023: € 23 million; see Note (20) “Property, plant and equipment”).

The adjustments are reported in the consolidated income statement as part of the respective functional costs and allocated to them as follows:

2024

€ million

 

thereof: cost of sales

 

thereof: marketing and selling expenses

 

thereof: administration expenses

 

thereof: research and development expenses

 

thereof: others

 

Total

Restructuring expenses

 

-39

 

-27

 

-58

 

-10

 

-10

 

-144

Integration expenses/IT expenses

 

-2

 

 

-90

 

-1

 

-10

 

-103

Gains (+)/losses (-) on the divestment of businesses

 

 

-3

 

-6

 

 

55

 

46

Acquisition-related adjustments

 

 

 

 

 

-25

 

-26

Other adjustments

 

 

 

 

 

-68

 

-68

Adjustments before impairment losses/reversals of impairment losses1,2

 

-41

 

-30

 

-154

 

-11

 

-57

 

-293

Impairment losses2

 

 

 

 

 

-277

 

-277

Reversals of impairment losses

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjustments in the operating result (total)1

 

-41

 

-30

 

-154

 

-11

 

-335

 

-570

1

Not defined by International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

2

Without impairments on financial assets and inventories.

2023

€ million

 

thereof: cost of sales

 

thereof: marketing and selling expenses

 

thereof: administration expenses

 

thereof: research and development expenses

 

thereof: others

 

Total

Restructuring expenses

 

-42

 

-44

 

-135

 

-6

 

-21

 

-249

Integration expenses/IT expenses

 

-1

 

 

-110

 

-1

 

-6

 

-118

Gains (+)/losses (-) on the divestment of businesses

 

 

 

 

 

51

 

51

Acquisition-related adjustments

 

 

 

 

 

-18

 

-18

Other adjustments

 

 

 

 

 

-56

 

-56

Adjustments before impairment losses/reversals of impairment losses1

 

-43

 

-44

 

-246

 

-7

 

-50

 

-390

Impairment losses2

 

 

 

 

 

-88

 

-88

Reversals of impairment losses

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

1

Adjustments in the operating result (total)1

 

-43

 

-44

 

-246

 

-7

 

-138

 

-477

1

Not defined by International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

2

Without impairments on financial assets.

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