Third-quarter report 2005 of the EMS Group

With its companies combined in EMS-CHEMIE HOLDING AG and global activities in the fields of Performance Polymers and Fine Chemicals / Engineering, the EMS Group reports net sales for the first nine months of 2005 up by 8.2% over the previous year. This figure covers the continued activities and is within expectations.

Consolidated net sales for the continued activities was boosted by 8.2% to CHF 946 million (874), the corresponding increase in local currencies is 8.5%. The very satisfactory development of volumes in the Performance Polymers field as well as the higher average sales prices had a positive effect on sales revenues.

As before, EMS expects the continued activities to generate overall 2005 figures for net sales and operating income (EBIT) that are slightly above the previous year's level.