With its companies combined in EMS-CHEMIE HOLDING AG, the EMS Group with its world-wide activities in the fields of Performance Polymers, Fine Chemicals and Engineering reports that, on 1 December 2000, two share packages totalling 366'800 of Axantis Holding AG, Riedholz (SO) were acquired from Bank Julius Bär and Daniel Model, Salenstein respectively. Overall, the EMS Group holds 24.73 % in the Axantis group (formerly Attisholz group). Today, EMS has given advance notification of a public purchase offer to all Axantis shareholders of CHF 330.-- per registered share. This preliminary notice is linked to the condition that EMS acquires a share of at least 67 % in Axantis.
