Clariant AG : Clariant successfully places CHF 235 million domestic bond

Not for release, publication or distribution in whole or in part in or into the United States of America, Canada, Japan or Australia.

FOR RELEASE IN SWITZERLAND: THIS IS A RESTRICTED COMMUNICATION AND YOU MUST NOT FORWARD IT OR ITS CONTENTS TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM FORWARDING THIS COMMUNICATION IS PROHIBITED BY THE LEGENDS CONTAINED HEREIN.

Muttenz, March 13, 2012 - Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals, announced today the issuance of a CHF 235 million domestic bond.

The bond issued of CHF 235 million has a coupon of 3.25 percent p.a. and a tenor of 7 years. The issuer is Clariant AG. The proceeds are for general corporate purposes and specifically will be used to refinance bond maturities in 2012 and to extend Clariant's maturity profile into 2019. With the issuance, Clariant also strengthens its presence in the Swiss domestic capital market. Settlement is expected to happen on 24.4.2012.

Clariant`s current long-term ratings are "BBB-", "outlook negative" at Standard & Poor's, and "Ba1", "outlook stable" by Moody's.

END

NOTHING IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONSTITUTES AN OFFER OF SECURITIES FOR SALE IN THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE IT IS UNLAWFUL TO DO SO. ANY SECURITIES TO BE ISSUED WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE U.S. OR OTHER JURISDICTION, AND THE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD WITHIN THE U.S. OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, U.S. PERSONS (AS DEFINED IN REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT).

IN MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA ("EEA"), THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND ANY OFFER IF MADE SUBSEQUENTLY IS DIRECTED ONLY AT PERSONS WHO ARE "QUALIFIED INVESTORS" WITHIN THE MEANING OF ARTICLE 2(1)(E) OF THE DIRECTIVE 2003/71/EC (THE "PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE") (" QUALIFIED INVESTORS"). ANY PERSON IN THE EEA WHO ACQUIRES THE SECURITIES IN ANY OFFER (AN "INVESTOR") OR TO WHOM ANY OFFER OF SECURITIES IS MADE WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AND AGREED THAT IT IS A QUALIFIED INVESTOR. ANY INVESTOR WILL ALSO BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AND AGREED THAT ANY SECURITIES ACQUIRED BY IT IN THE OFFER HAVE NOT BEEN ACQUIRED ON BEHALF OF PERSONS IN THE EEA OTHER THAN QUALIFIED INVESTORS OR PERSONS IN THE UK AND OTHER MEMBER STATES (WHERE EQUIVALENT LEGISLATION EXISTS) FOR WHOM THE INVESTOR HAS AUTHORITY TO MAKE DECISIONS ON A WHOLLY DISCRETIONARY BASIS, NOR HAVE THE SECURITIES BEEN ACQUIRED WITH A VIEW TO THEIR OFFER OR RESALE IN THE EEA TO PERSONS WHERE THIS WOULD RESULT IN A REQUIREMENT FOR PUBLICATION BY THE ISSUER OR THE JOINT LEAD MANAGERS OF A PROSPECTUS PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 3 OF THE PROSPECTUS DIRECTIVE. THE ISSUER, THE JOINT LEAD MANAGERS AND ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES, AND OTHERS, WILL RELY UPON THE TRUTH AND ACCURACY OF THE FOREGOING REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS.

This announcement is directed only at (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom, (ii) persons in the United Kingdom who have professional experience in matters related to investments and who are investment professionals within the meaning of Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended) of the United Kingdom (the "Financial Promotion Order"); (iii) persons who fall within Articles 49(2) (a) to (d) ("high net worth companies, unincorporated associations etc.") of the Financial Promotion Order; and (iv) any other persons to whom this press release may otherwise lawfully be directed (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). This announcement must not be acted on or relied on by other persons in the United Kingdom. Any investment or investment activity to which this announcement relates is available only to relevant persons and will be engaged in only with relevant persons.

This publication constitutes neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation to buy securities. It does not constitute an offering prospectus within the meaning of Art. 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations nor a listing prospectus within the meaning of the SIX Swiss Exchange Listing Rules. Investors should take their investment decision to buy or subscribe for bonds solely on the basis of a prospectus, and the offer of bonds issued by Clariant AG will be made solely by means of a prospectus to be published.

Clariant is an internationally active specialty chemical company, based in Muttenz near Basel. The group owns over 100 companies worldwide and employed 22 149 employees on December 31, 2011. In the financial year 2011, Clariant produced a turnover of CHF 7.4 billion. Clariant is divided into eleven business units: Additives; Catalysis & Energy; Emulsions, Detergents & Intermediates;

Functional Materials; Industrial & Consumer Specialties; Leather Services; Masterbatches; Oil & Mining Services; Paper Specialties; Pigments; Textile Chemicals.

Clariant focuses on creating value by investing in future profitable and sustainable growth, which is based on four strategic pillars: Improving profitability, innovation as well as research and development, dynamic growth in emerging markets, and optimizing the portfolio through complementary acquisitions or divestments.