Our purpose is to create brighter lives for all. We use our bright science to create solutions for people today and generations to come.

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CEO Message

The year 2019 was again a record year for DSM. The hard work and engagement of our employees delivered good results, in a not so easy economic, as well as (geo)political and societal, context. We can all be very proud of what has been achieved. We made decisive progress as a performance-driven and purpose-led company, creating brighter lives for all, and already reaching more than 2.5 billion people worldwide.

Read CEO letter

People

  • Workforce

    22,174
    at year end 2019,
    excluding affiliates

  • Engagement

    74%
    Employee Engagement Index,
    with a response rate of 92%,
    versus 76% in 2018

  • Gender ratio

    28:721
    Female:male ratio
    equal to 2018

  • Female executives

    20%
    Female executives
    versus 19% in 2018.
    50% of MB, EC and SB
    as of 15 February 2020

  • Safety

    0.28
    Frequency Index of Recordable
    Injuries versus 0.33 in 2018
    (per 100 DSM employees
    and contractors)
1 Excluding companies that are not integrated into our HR systems (approx. 6% of the total workforce).

Planet

  • Greenhouse gas

    ~17%
    GHG scope 1 + 2 reduction –
    cumulative structural
    improvement1 versus ~8%
    in 2018 (baseline 2016)

  • Electricity

    50%
    Purchased electricity
    form renewable sources
    versus 41% in 2018

  • Energy efficiency

    2.3%
    Energy efficiency
    improvement year on year
    versus 1.4% in 2018
1 We estimate that the effect of the underlying cumulative structural improvements in absolute GHG emissions was approximately 17% and 8% in 2019 and 2018 respectively, versus the 2016 baseline. The total cumulative absolute reduction was 25% and 18% respectively, versus the 2016 baseline.

Profit

  • Net sales

    € 9,010
    Net sales, up 2% from
    € 8,8521 in 2018 (in millions)

  • Adjusted EBITDA

    € 1,6842
    Adjusted EBITDA3
    versus € 1,5321 in 2018
    (in millions)

  • Adjusted EBITDA growth

    +10%2
    Adjusted EBITDA3 growth
    versus 20181 and versus a
    high single-digit target

  • Adjusted net operating
    free cash flow

    € 8012
    Adjusted net operating free
    cash flow3 versus € 5451 in 2018
    (in millions)

  • Adjusted net operating
    free cash flow growth

    + 47%2
    Adjusted net operating free
    cash flow3 growth versus 20181
    and versus an average annual
    target of ~10%

  • Innovation
    sales

    21%
    Innovation sales,
    in line with our
    ambition of ~20%

  • Net profit

    € 764
    Total net profit versus
    € 1,0794 in 2018 (in millions)

  • Net earnings

    € 4.27
    Net earnings per ordinary
    share, versus € 6.104 in 2018

  • Adjusted net earnings

    € 4.64
    Adjusted net earnings3
    per ordinary share,
    versus € 5.84 in 2018

  • Proposed dividend

    € 2.40
    Proposed5 dividend per
    ordinary share for 2019
    up from € 2.30 for 2018
1 Excluding temporary vitamin effect in 2018 of € 415 million sales and € 290 million (Adjusted) EBITDA, for further information see Temporary vitamin effect 2018.
2 Including the impact of IFRS 16, see Impact of IFRS 16.
3 For reconciliation to IFRS performance measures, see Alternative performance measures.
4 2018 includes the temporary vitamin effect, for further information see Temporary vitamin effect 2018, and the book profit on the sale of DSM Sinochem Pharmaceuticals.
5 Subject to approval by the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders.

Brighter Living Solutions

  • Sales of Brighter Living Solutions

    63%1
    Sales of Brighter Living Solutions
    versus 62%2 in 2018
1 For a small percentage of sales (approximately 2%) classified as BLS, the environmental impact is considered ‘best in class’ together with other solutions.
2 Excluding the temporary vitamin effect in 2018 of € 415 million sales, for further information see Temporary vitamin effect 2018.

View the full key data table

DSM around the world

Netherlands

€

Net sales by origin

€ 2,173 million | 24%

Net sales by destination

€ 351 million | 4%

Workforce

3,960 (headcount)

North America

€

Net sales by origin

€ 1,568 million | 17%

Net sales by destination

€ 2,046 million | 23%

Workforce

3,346 (headcount)

Latin America

€

Net sales by origin

€ 722 million | 8%

Net sales by destination

€ 1,116 million | 12%

Workforce

2,134 (headcount)

Eastern Europe

€

Net sales by origin

€ 197 million | 2%

Net sales by destination

€ 591 million | 7%

Workforce

575 (headcount)

Rest of Western Europe

€

Net sales by origin

€ 2,667 million | 30%

Net sales by destination

€ 2,088 million | 23%

Workforce

5,133 (headcount)

China

€

Net sales by origin

€ 976 million | 11%

Net sales by destination

€ 1,098 million | 12%

Workforce

4,959 (headcount)

India

€

Net sales by origin

€ 97 million | 1%

Net sales by destination

€ 236 million | 3%

Workforce

681 (headcount)

Japan

€

Net sales by origin

€ 136 million | 2%

Net sales by destination

€ 301 million | 3%

Workforce

205 (headcount)

Rest of Asia

€

Net sales by origin

€ 370 million | 4%

Net sales by destination

€ 898 million | 10%

Workforce

889 (headcount)

Rest of the world

€

Net sales by origin

€ 104 million | 1%

Net sales by destination

€ 285 million | 3%

Workforce

292 (headcount)

DSM and the Sustainable Development Goals

Companies have a key role to play in achieving the SDGs. We believe that our combination of Health, Nutrition and Sustainable Living contributes in a positive way toward achieving the SDGs.

Find out more