The specialty chemicals Group ALTANA AG concluded the business year 2009 with noticeably lower sales and earnings figures compared to the prior year due to the effects of the economic crisis. Despite a pronounced upturn in business in the second half of the year, sales declined to €1,182 million, following €1,342 million in 2008, which is a decrease of 12%. On account of the worldwide economic crisis, sales in all regions remained below the figures of the previous year; in some regions the lo...