First-quarter report 2014 (January - March 2014) of the EMS Group

EMS Group:

- Positive course of business

- Global expansion of specialty business

Course of business January - March 2014

The EMS Group, with its companies consolidated in the EMS-CHEMIE HOLDING AG, is globally active in the business areas High Performance Polymers and Specialty Chemicals. In the first three months of 2014, net sales in local currencies increased by 11.8% compared to the same period of the previous year. Net sales in Swiss Francs amounted to CHF 497 million (463) which is 7.3% above previous year. The net operating income (EBIT) was also clearly higher than the previous year.

As expected, the worldwide economy developed in a favourable way in the first three months of 2014. The large Asian and American markets continued their growth while the crisis-ridden European markets recovered noticeably.

EMS successfully pushed innovative specialty business and realised additional applications. Global market positions were strengthened and the centers of innovation in China further expanded.

Compared to the Euro (and to the Swiss Franc) weaker currencies slowed the growth of net sales in Swiss Francs.