Today, the newly composed Managing Board of Royal DSM N.V. presents the conclusions from its early, mid-term evaluation of the Vision 2010 – Building on Strengths strategy:

• DSM accelerates the shift to a Life Sciences (Nutrition and Pharma) and Materials Sciences (Performance Materials) company:
  - this shift strongly positions DSM to meet the needs of tomorrow’s society in areas such as nutrition and health as well as advanced materials to improve the quality of life and the environment
  - as a consequence DSM initiates a divestment program for non-core businesses and
  - steps-up search for acquisitions in core business areas to achieve external growth
• Ambitious new growth targets
  - organic sales growth target raised to >5% per year
  - raised sales target for China in 2010 from USD 1 billion to USD 1.5 billion
• Commitment to deliver EUR 1 billion additional sales from innovation by 2010
• Dividend increase of 20% per share will be recommended at AGM in March 2008
• New EUR 750 million share buy-back
• Sustainability targets reconfirmed; energy savings target doubled

DSM raises the outlook for the full year 2007: Operating profit (before exceptional items) is expected to be EUR 820 million +/- 3% (up from EUR 790 million +/- 3%).

Full version of the press release (PDF 116 Kb).