ALTANA AG increased first-half consolidated sales in 2006 by 24 percent to €1.93 billion. This growth is due to the very good operating performance of ALTANA Pharma and ALTANA Chemie. The acquisition of the ECKART Group also contributed to this excellent development. Adjusted for currency and acquisition/divestment effects, operating sales increased by 10 percent. ALTANA’s earnings before taxes (EBT) rose by 8 percent.      “Our first half-year performance provides impressive confirmation th...