WACKER finalizes Acquisition of Polymer Joint Ventures

- Antitrust authorities clear takerover of APP and WPS joint
ventures
- Full integration into WACKER Group expected by year-end

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Munich (euro adhoc) - February 1st, 2008 - Wacker Chemie AG has
successfully concluded its acquisition of full ownership of Air
Products Polymers (APP) and Wacker Polymer Systems (WPS), its two
joint ventures with Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. The transaction
announced in December 2007 has now been cleared by the European and
U.S. antitrust authorities. WACKER´s stake in APP had been 35
percent, with Air Products holding the remaining 65 percent. As for
WPS, WACKER held 80 percent and Air Products, 20 percent. WACKER
expects APP and WPS to be fully integrated into the Group structures
by year-end.

As already reported on December 11, 2007, WACKER is to take over
vinyl acetate/ethylene operations from APP and WPS. Consequently,
WACKER will take full ownership of the two companies´ activities in
Allentown (PA, USA), Calvert City (KY, USA), Cologne and Burghausen
(Germany), South Brunswick (NJ, USA) and Ulsan (South Korea). WACKER
plans to coordinate this business out of the Lehigh Valley (PA, USA).
In return, Air Products is to receive the production facilities at
Elkton (MD, USA) and Piedmont (SC, USA), as well as related business
and a payment of $265 million. WACKER estimates that the acquisition
will help boost the Group´s 2008 polymer business to about EUR1
billion.

As the world's leading supplier of dispersible polymer powders for
construction applications, WACKER expects the acquisition to benefit
its global polymers business on several strategic fronts. Advantages
include backward integration at U.S. and Asian dispersion plants, as
well as the expansion of its supply chain outside the eurozone. In
addition, WACKER strengthens its portfolio in application areas such
as adhesives and coatings.

APP and WPS in Brief Air Products Polymers (APP) produces polymer
dispersions at sites in Germany, South Korea and the USA. It sells
its products under the Airflex®, Vinac®, Flexbond® and Flexcryl®
trademarks to industries ranging from adhesives, nonwovens, paints
and coatings, to building products, paper, carpet and textiles.
Wacker Polymer Systems (WPS) is responsible for VINNAPAS® dispersible
polymer powders, VINNAPAS® solid resins, PIOLOFORM® B, VINNOL®
surface-coating resins, VINNEX® binder systems and VINNAPAS®
dispersions for construction applications. WPS maintains production
facilities in Germany, China and the USA.

This press release contains forward-looking statements based on
assumptions and estimates of WACKER´s Executive Board. Although we
assume the expectations in these forward-looking statements are
realistic, we cannot guarantee they will prove to be correct. The
assumptions may harbor risks and uncertainties that may cause the
actual figures to differ considerably from the forward-looking
statements. Factors that may cause such discrepancies include, among
other things, changes in the economic and business environment,
variations in exchange and interest rates, the introduction of
competing products, lack of acceptance for new products or services,
and changes in corporate strategy. WACKER does not plan to update the
forward-looking statements, nor does it assume the obligation to do
so.

end of announcement euro adhoc
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ots Originaltext: Wacker Chemie AG
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Further inquiry note:

Christof Bachmair

Media Relations & Information

Tel. +49 89 6279-1830

E-Mail:christof.bachmair@wacker.com

Branche: Chemicals
ISIN: DE000WCH8881
WKN: WCH888
Index: Midcap Market Index, MDAX, CDAX, Classic All Share, HDAX,
Prime All Share
Börsen: Börse Frankfurt / regulated dealing/prime standard


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