Umicore

Environmental & Social Information • Dec 7, 2011

Press release 7 December 2011 CP-2011-54-R 12:45 CET

Umicore to consolidate germanium optics production in Quapaw

Umicore today announced its intention to consolidate the production of its germanium-based optics products at its facility in Quapaw, Oklahoma. It is anticipated that optics production at the Olen site in Belgium would be phased out during the coming 18 months with all production moving to Quapaw.

Umicore has undertaken actions to minimize the impact on its employees at the Olen site. A re-employment plan has been developed in order to secure alternative employment at the Olen site for the 89 fixed-contract workers affected by this move. All temporary workers will be offered alternative employment possibilities elsewhere in Umicore's Belgian operations. In total, 1,033 people are employed by Umicore at the Olen site.

The market for optics products, which are used in thermal imaging devices, is based predominantly in the United States. The market has seen a decline in demand over several years and this has made it necessary to reduce capacity and to consolidate production in the site that is closest to Umicore's customer base.

Umicore Group Communications

Naamloze vennoolschap / Société Anonyme phone +32 2 227 71 11 VAT BE0401 574 852 Broekstraat 31 Rue du Marais fax +32 2 227 79 00 Company number 0401574852 B-1000 Brussels e-mail info@umicore.com Registered office Broekstraat 31 Rue du Marais Belgium web www.umicore.com B-1000 Brussels

For more information

Investor Relations:

Mr. Geoffroy RASKIN	+32 2 227 71 47		geoffroy.raskin@umicore.com
Mrs Evelien GOOVAERTS	+32 2 227 78 38		evelien.goovaerts@umicore.com
Director of Group Communications:
Mr. Tim WEEKES	+32 2 227 73 98	+32 473 98 49 14	tim.weekes@umicore.com

Umicore profile

Umicore is a global materials technology group. It focuses on application areas where its expertise in materials science, chemistry and metallurgy makes a real difference. Its activities are centred on four business areas: Catalysis, Energy Materials, Performance Materials and Recycling. Each business area is divided into marketfocused business units offering materials and solutions that are at the cutting edge of new technological developments and essential to everyday life.

Umicore generates the majority of its revenues and dedicates most of its R&D efforts to clean technologies, such as emission control catalysts, materials for rechargeable batteries and photovoltaics, fuel cells, and recycling. Umicore's overriding goal of sustainable value creation is based on an ambition to develop, produce and recycle materials in a way that fulfils its mission: materials for a better life.

The Umicore Group has industrial operations on all continents and serves a global customer base; it generated a turnover of € 9.7 billion (€ 2.0 billion excluding metal) in 2010 and currently employs some 14,400 people.