A total of € 655.7 million was used for acquisitions and investments in financial assets (2012: € 778.2 million). Of this amount, € 15.1 million (2012: € 20.6 million) was used for acquisitions. In 2013, the line “Acquisitions” reflects a contingent purchase price payment for the microbiology business of Biotest AG, Dreieich, acquired in 2011. Net cash outflows from investments in current and non-current assets amounting to € 640.6 million (2012: € 757.6 million) mainly resulted from the purchase of current financial assets.
In 2013, cash inflows from disposals of assets amounted to € 297.8 (2012: € 93.6 million). The sale of the Merck Serono site in Geneva, Switzerland, resulted in cash inflows of € 251.1 million.