Merck KGaA says dominance in liquid crystals could be at risk

DIC

28/04/2017 09:18

FRANKFURT, April 28 (Reuters) - Germany's Merck KGaA 
 MRCG.DE , the world's largest maker of liquid crystals for flat 
screens, cautioned that its dominance of that market could erode 
over time, making the case for more investments into newer OLED 
display technologies. 
    "We know ... that our market shares in recent years were 
very high. At the present time we cannot rule out a further 
normalization. We will therefore forge ahead with new 
technologies in all four business units, for instance OLED," 
Chief Executive Stefan Oschmann told shareholders at the annual 
general meeting on Friday. 
    Merck commands about 60 percent of the liquid crystals, with 
Japanese companies JNC Corp. and DIC Corp  4631.T  as 
runners-up, and the technology is a major profit driver for the 
diversified German group, which also makes pharmaceuticals and 
supplies for labs and bioreactors. 
    For now, an ongoing recovery in the display market should 
have a positive effect on the liquid crystals business, the CEO 
added. 
 
 (Reporting by Ludwig Burger; Editing by Arno Schuetze) 
 ((ludwig.burger@thomsonreuters.com; +49 69 7565 1311; Reuters 
Messaging: ludwig.burger.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)) 
 
Keywords: MERCKKGAA LIQUIDCRYSTALS/