merck kgaa investor relations frankfurter straße 250 64271 darmstadt germany may 4 th 2000 page 1 of 11 your contact person dr christian raabe 49 61 51 72 62 95 daniela rink 33 21 susanne zeichner 15 fax 31 64 e mail de st quarter sales 41 percent organic 7 operating profit business sectors 9 6 substantial increase in from operations global by the group rose first over very good last year to eur 583 million a major contribution this was made full consolidation vwr scientific products corporation north america since we purchased outstanding 50 shares that company august 1999 more than compensated for deconsolidation bracco s below line there remained an acquisition related 26 currency effects contributed 2 growth were highly satisfied with our domestic declined while significant recorded foreign
