HOLZMINDEN (dpa-AFX) - Continued robust demand for additives for beverages, pet food as well as fine fragrances and cosmetic active ingredients continue to provide Symrise with a tailwind. However, the weaker euro exchange rate is slowing the Dax group's sales growth. In the nine months from January to the end of September, revenues rose by 3.3 percent year-on-year to 3.61 billion euros, the company announced on Wednesday. Analysts on average had expected a little more. On the basis of organic growth, i.e. excluding exchange rate effects and acquisitions and disposals of businesses, the increase was 7.4 percent, which is more than expected. For the full year, Group CEO Heinz-Jürgen Bertram continues to target organic growth of five to seven percent.

The company will not comment on the development of profits until it presents its annual figures. Symrise confirmed its annual target of an earnings margin before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (Ebitda) and before special effects of around 20 percent./mis/stk