Third-Quarter Report 2001 of the EMS Group

The EMS Group, with worldwide activities in the fields of Performance Polymers, Fine Chemicals and Engineering, and companies combined within EMS-CHEMIE HOLDING AG, increased consolidated net sales revenues in the first 9 months of 2001 by 11% over the previous year to CHF 951 Mio. (857 Mio). Within the previous year's scope of consolidation, net sales revenues would have risen by 3.1%. Up to August, sales revenues grew in line with expectations, but since September have been lower than expected, owing to the general sense of insecurity among customers, which is likely to persist into the fourth quarter.

The scope of consolidation now also includes Wagner Automobilsysteme, acquired in February 2001, and EMS-UBE Ltd., Ube (Japan), which produces chemical raw materials exclusively for the two partners EMS and UBE; EMS' existing minority interest in the company has been increased from 49% to 66.67%.