Definitive half-year report 2004 of the EMS Group

EMS Group - which comprises the business areas Performance Polymers, Fine Chemicals and Engineering and whose companies operate within EMS-CHEMIE HOLDING AG - reported a rise of 5.1% in net sales and a 8.2% increase in operating income (EBIT) for the first half of 2004 compared with the previous year. This result exceeded expectations: both sales and operating income were boosted by increased sales volumes and the successful implementation of the cost-cutting program.