Environmental provisions relate to the environmental protection measures required at former Chemistry Division production sites. These include the lake bed clean-up in Uetikon am See (Switzerland), the former production site in Full-Reuenthal (Switzerland) and obligations associated with various waste disposal sites. The lake bed clean-up began in 2022 and should be completed in two to three years. It is being conducted in close collaboration with Canton Zurich, which is serving as the project leader with the CPH Group represented in the project management group. 80 % of the costs of the clean-up are to be borne by the CPH Group and 20 % by Canton Zurich. The work is being financed with the funds generated by the sale of the Uetikon site to Canton Zurich in 2016. The costs involved are not cash-relevant, and reduce both the provisions effected for the work and the remaining receivable from Canton Zurich (see also Note 12, Other receivables and Note 15, Financial assets).

The provisions for major repairs relate to the renovation work needed on the weir in Perlen (Switzerland) under the concession requirements of Canton Lucerne. The related project planning is well advanced, and the work should be performed in the next few years.

For the provisions for deferred income taxes, please see Note 8, Income taxes. Other provisions include claims for customer complaints.

The provision amounts were reviewed as of the balance sheet date and adjusted in line with the latest estimates and assessments. New findings on the scope and the costs of the actions needed – in the light of the requirements of the authorities, work progress to date and inflation-based increases in construction costs – entailed an increase in the provision amounts (see also Note 7, Non-operating result).