Global nutrition, health and beauty innovator dsm-firmenich has laid out its strategy for accelerating growth and boosting financial performance at a recent Investor Event in London outlining plans to sharpen execution after completing a major transformation of its business.
The company told institutional analysts and investors it is entering a new phase following the divestment of its Animal Nutrition & Health unit and the completion of its merger integration, moves it says have created a stronger, more focused business.
Chief Executive Officer Dimitri de Vreeze said the group has spent the past three years reshaping its portfolio and strengthening its operational base.
“Over the past three years, we have built a more focused and higher-quality business. Following the announced divestment of Animal Nutrition & Health, we completed our portfolio upgrade, marking our transformation to becoming a fully consumer-focused company.
"With the merger integration finalized, and €175 million in cost synergies delivered, dsm-firmenich now stands on a fundamentally stronger foundation to step up its financial performance.
"Looking ahead, our priority is now to focus on execution in order to accelerate our performance in 2026-2027. We have a multi-lever plan to drive growth, expand EBITDA margins, and improve cash conversion. At the same time, we take a disciplined approach to capital allocation, normalize capital expenditure, and reduce working capital.”
The company said macroeconomic headwinds that emerged in the second half of 2025 have persisted into early 2026, with cautious consumer demand and unfavorable foreign exchange movements weighing on the business.
Despite these challenges, dsm-firmenich expects its continuing operations to deliver 2–4% organic sales growth in 2026, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of around 20%. Cash conversion — measured as adjusted gross operating free cash flow to sales — is projected at 11–12%.
The forecast assumes no prolonged disruption from geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
Looking further ahead, the company expects improving market conditions to help accelerate progress toward its 2027 financial targets. That momentum, executives said, should allow the group to achieve its mid-term goals from 2028 for organic sales growth and EBITDA margins.
dsm-firmenich also raised its mid-term cash generation target, increasing the goal for adjusted gross operating free cash flow from at least 10% to at least 14% of sales.
In a separate announcement, the company said it will launch a €540 million share repurchase program. Of that total, €500 million will be used to reduce issued capital, while €40 million will fund obligations linked to share-based compensation plans.
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