Merck Ltd, affiliates of Merck KGaA of Germany, achieved satisfactory financial performance during the year ended December 2005 and its net profit improved by 11 per cent to Rs 78.79 crore from Rs 70.99 crore in the previous year. With this improved profitability its earning per share moved to Rs 46.73 from Rs 42.11 in the last year. The company declared equity dividend of 150 per cent for the year 2005.

The company's net sales increased by 5.3 per cent to Rs 396.46 crore from Rs 376.60 crore and its other income went up by 33.9 per cent to Rs 18.37 crore from Rs 13.82 crore. The sales of the pharmaceutical segment improved marginally to Rs 225.82 crore as against Rs 223.68 crore in the previous year. Its chemical division notched up sales of Rs 179.97 crore as compared to Rs 164.91 crore.

The company is planning to sell its life science and analytics business excluding bulk drugs to Merck Specialities Pvt Ltd, a company wherein 100 per cent of the equity capital is held by its parent company - Merck KGaA, Germany for a consideration of Rs 99.20 crore after certain approvals.