BERLIN (AP) -- German drug and chemical maker Merck KGaA says third-quarter earnings rose 46 percent, as it reported revenues from new acquisition Millipore Corp. for the first time and saw high demand for its liquid crystals business.
Merck reported net earnings of euro210.8 million ($295.7 million) in the July-September period, compared with euro144.4 million in the same period of 2009.
Total revenues were up 25 percent to euro2.4 billion from euro1.9 billion.
Millipore, a U.S. biotechnology equipment supplier, is now part of the company's Merck Millipore unit, which generated euro574 million in third-quarter sales, euro314 million from Millipore. Liquid crystals sales climbed 21 percent to euro255 million.
Merck shares dipped by 0.4 percent to euro60.73 in Frankfurt trading.
