A large gathering of 2'198 shareholders followed the invitation to the 63rd Annual General Meeting of EMS-CHEMIE HOLDING AG at Domat/Ems on August 8, 2026. A total of 20,278,278 registered shares were represented, corresponding to 92.6% of all shares entitled to vote.
The event was opened by the "Bergwaldchörli Enggenhütten" yodel choir from Appenzell in Switzerland. The yodel club inspired the audience with traditional Appenzeller natural yodels and its own humorous yodel compositions - specially arranged by the Bergwaldchörli conductor Frowin Neff - rock and pop hits in Appenzeller dialect and yodel costumes. The musical finale was performed by the Domat/Ems drum corps and featured a magnificent solo by 12-year-old junior drummer Lino Jörg, winner of the 2026 Eastern Swiss Drum, Pipe and Clairon Competition.
Highlight was the presentation by EMS apprentices and employees of innovative applications using EMS specialty polymers under the motto "EMS: Keep cool!". The humanoid robot "Gigi" from the ZHAW University of Applied Sciences, Zurich, also made a quick visit to the shareholders during his "Tour de Suisse Robotique" wearing Künzli sneakers.
Robots and artificial intelligence require enormous computing power and, as a result, a lot of electricity, which in turn generates a large amount of waste heat. EMS cooling solutions are already reducing power consumption by up to 70% in one out of every three data centers, currently experiencing rapid growth worldwide! EMS - amazingly cool!
Logistics centers handle up to 300'000 packages daily in the online shopping sector. High-performance EMS polymers are used in automation of robots and roller conveyors. EMS – impressively agile and powerful!
Water sports equipment must be lightweight, robust and resistant to seawater and UV radiation. EMS specialty polymers withstand saltwater, heat and mechanical stress, and endure over a million bending cycles. They are just as suitable for use in diving computers and smart gear as for fins and paddles. The global market is growing. EMS is right there with it!
The Annual General Meeting approved all proposals from the Board of Directors. Shareholders will receive an ordinary dividend of CHF 14.65 gross and an extraordinary dividend of CHF 3.75 gross per dividend-bearing registered share. Payment of dividends will commence on August 13, 2026.
Re-elected as members of the Board of Directors for a further term of office were Bernhard Merki (Chairman), Magdalena Martullo (Vice-Chairman), Kaspar Kelterborn and Rainer Roten. The BDO AG, Zurich, was elected as statutory auditor. Dr. Robert K. Däppen was confirmed as independent proxy.
In the impressive marquee on the production site at Domat/Ems, shareholders and guests were served a delicious three-course lunch menu. 60 chefs from the Compass Group Switzerland, with 153 helpers from the extended sports club Turnverein Männerriege Tamins and the Renngemeinschaft Laax Ski, were responsible for the preparation and serving of 115 kg salad, 630 kg beef cheeks, 75 kg veal bacon, 520 kg potatoes and 500 kg green beans. For dessert, 160 kg strawberry-rhubarb mousse and 2'800 Grisons "Chräbeli" biscuits were served.
Following the meal, participants were able to visit the very popular exhibition about the unbelievable history of EMS-CHEMIE* (more than 32'000 visitors to date) as well as the first Grisons Science Center EMSORAMA** (nearly 24'000 visitors to date).
* The exhibition "The unbelievable history of EMS-CHEMIE" is open for group visits of 10 or more people free of charge following advance registration by email: ausstellung@emschemie.ch, or by phone: +41 81 632 78 78. Further information: www.emschemie.ch/ausstellung
** The Grisons Science Center "EMSORAMA" is open for group visits of 10 or more people per group, free of charge following advance registration on www.emsorama.ch or by phone: +41 81 632 78 78.
