Clariant with good start into 2015, delivering on growth and cash flow - Seite 2

* As of 31 December 2014

First quarter 2015 - Good sales growth driven by higher volumes

Muttenz, 29 April 2015 - Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals, today announced first quarter 2015 sales from continuing operations of CHF 1.465 billion compared to CHF 1.492 billion in the first quarter of 2014. This corresponds to an increase of 4 % in local currencies. The 4 % organic sales growth was driven by 5 % higher volumes and a decrease in prices of 1 %.

Given the strong volatility of currencies in the first quarter 2015, in particular the year-on-year weaknesses of the euro, Brazilian real, and the Japanese yen, the good sales growth in local currencies translated into a 2 % sales reduction in Swiss francs.

Clariant posted strong local currency sales growth of 23 % in Latin America. Sales in Asia/Pacific increased 8 % in local currencies, driven by smaller economies, as India and China did not contribute to growth in the first quarter. In the Middle East & Africa region, sales were 6 % lower year-on-year in local currencies compared to a higher basis in the first quarter in 2014. A strong demand in Catalysis as well as continued growth in Oil & Mining Services led to a growth of 3 % in local currencies in North America. Europe was 2 % lower in local currencies, mostly driven by regional weaknesses in Pigments and Functional Minerals.

All Business Areas achieved underlying sales growth in local currencies for the first quarter. Care Chemicals recorded a like-for-like growth of 4 %. Reported growth, however, was flat year-on-year, exclusively due to the pruning of low-margin base products in 2014. Sales in Catalysis & Energy increased by 26 % in local currencies with strong growth in all of its businesses. Natural Resources revenues increased by 8 %, which was driven by Oil & Mining Services. In Plastics & Coatings, sales increased by 1 % as strong demand in March compensated for a weak start into 2015.

At 30.8 %, the gross margin was above 28.9 % in the prior-year period benefitting from positive effects from higher volumes and slightly lower raw material costs. These effects overcompensated slight price decreases, a negative currency effect and inventory devaluations. The negative inventory effect is expected to reverse in the second quarter of 2015.