Bayer reports record results; sets targets for 2009.(EUROPE/MIDEAST)(financial report)(Financial report)

Bayer says it has achieved a record underlying operating result in 2006 and is forecasting a further improvement in earnings for 2007. "Fiscal 2006 was an extraordinarily eventful and very successful year for Bayer," said chairman and CEO Werner Wenning at the company's spring financial news conference in Leverkusen last week. Fourth-quarter Ebitda before special items was up 34% at 1.258 billion [euro] ($1.65 billion), on 25% higher sales at 7.97 billion [euro]. Full-year Ebitda before special items rose 21%, to 5.584 billion [euro], on sales up 17%, at 28.956 billion [euro], including 3 billion [euro] revenues from the Schering business, which became a part of Bayer on June …