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LANXESS 07/02/2007

Approval opens up field of play for Mesamoll® LANXESS plasticizers for toy and food contact applications

Leverkusen - Chemicals group LANXESS has received the approval of the U.S.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its plasticizer Mesamoll® II. This approval covers its use in products that come into contact with aqueous based foodstuffs. The universal plasticizer alkylsulfonic phenyl ester is suitable for polymers such as polyurethane, NBR rubber and PVC. "The FDA approval is an important milestone for us. We can now offer plasticizing solutions for specialty applications such as toys," says a delighted Dr. Michael Gauss, head of the Functional Chemicals business unit.

Mesamoll® II is a particularly beneficial product for the plastics processing industry as it has faster gelling characteristics than standard plasticizers - at lower operating temperatures. This considerably reduces production and processing times and lowers manufacturing costs. The particularly good saponification resistance of this plasticizer prolongs the life of PVC. Furthermore, PVC film containing Mesamoll® II displays excellent heat-sealing characteristics, and in contrast to many conventional plasticizers, products manufactured with Mesamoll® II have excellent weathering resistance and printability.

Mesamoll® II is suitable for a large number of applications which include toys, gloves, film for water beds, sealants and casting compounds for the construction sector, as well as swimming floats and rubber boots.

LANXESS’s Functional Chemicals (FCC) business unit supplies polymer additives, phosphorus and specialty chemicals and organic and inorganic colorants for a variety of industrial sectors. FCC belongs to the Performance Chemicals segment, which achieved sales of EUR 1,977 million in fiscal 2005.

Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by LANXESS AG management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.