Third-Quarter Report 2003 of the EMS Group

With its companies combined in EMS-CHEMIE HOLDING AG and global activities in the fields of Performance Polymers, Fine Chemicals and Engineering, the EMS Group reports sales on the level of the previous year - and hence within the framework of expectations - for the first 9 months of 2003. Sales in local currencies exceeded the previous year's result by 1.1%. Expressed in Swiss francs, sales of CHF 917 million (previous year: CHF 930 million) represent a small decline (-1.4%) against the previous year. Assuming an identical scope of consolidation, sales in Swiss francs increased by +0.5% (+3.0% in local currencies). The feeble global economic situation remained a decisive factor also throughout the third quarter, and EMS does not anticipate any significant improvement of the general economic environment for the final quarter of the current year.