WACKER to acquire Air Products' stake in construction polymers joint ventures

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Munich / Lehigh Valley (PA) (euro adhoc) - December 11, 2007 - Wacker Chemie AG
plans to acquire full ownership of Air Products Polymers (APP) and Wacker
Polymer Systems (WPS), its two joint ventures with Air Products and Chemicals,
Inc. The two partners today announced they have signed an agreement to this
effect. As the world's leading supplier of dispersible polymer powders for
construction applications, WACKER expects that the acquisition will provide
strategic advantages to its global construction-polymers business. Benefits
include synergies and cost advantages stemming from backward integration at U.S.
and Asian dispersion plants, as well as the expansion of its supply chain
outside the eurozone.

The closing of the transaction, which is subject to approval by the relevant
antitrust authorities, is expected in Q1 2008. As part of the agreement, WACKER
retains the Vinyl Acetate Ethylene (VAE) activities of the Joint Venture, while
Air Products will receive full ownership in the Elkton, Md., and Piedmont, S.C.,
production facilities and their related businesses plus cash considerations of
USD 265 million. With approval, the transaction would contribute substantially
to further develop WACKER´s polymer business to around EUR1 billion in sales in
2008.

Air Products issued a formal statement back in March 2006, announcing its
intention to sell its APP and WPS shareholdings. Currently, WACKER owns 35
percent and Air Products 65 percent of APP. As for WPS, WACKER holds 80 percent
and Air Products, 20 percent.

The planned acquisition focuses on the activities of APP and WPS in vinyl
acetate ethylene-based dispersions and dispersible polymer powders.
Consequently, WACKER plans to acquire all of the two companies´ related
activities at their APP and WPS sites in Allentown (PA, USA), Calvert City (KY,
USA), Cologne and Burghausen (Germany), South Brunswick (NJ, USA) and Ulsan
(Korea). WACKER intends to continue operating this business out of the Lehigh
Valley. The Elkton (MD, USA) and Piedmont (SC, USA) sites and the associated
businesses will become fully owned by Air Products.

Wacker Chemie AG´s CEO, Peter-Alexander Wacker, saw the acquisition as another
logical step in the Group´s growth strategy. "WACKER and Air Products have
worked together for over 20 years successfully developing the polymers market.
This is a very capable and knowledgeable team," he said. "Our agreement will
give WACKER fully integrated production sites in the USA and Asia. The economies
of scale and synergies resulting from this extension of our value chain will
bring us cost advantages. By boosting WACKER´s polymer sales, the agreement
reinforces the balance of our entire business portfolio. We will push ahead now
with APP´s and WPS´s integration into WACKER Group."

Air Products´ President and CEO, John McGlade, said: "Air Products and WACKER
are looking back to a decades-long successful partnership in polymer business.
They recognize the strategic value of the business, its high quality assets and
its outstanding team of employees."

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 operates production facilities in Germany, China and the USA.

Air Products in Brief
Air Products (NYSE: APD) serves customers in industrial, energy, technology and
healthcare markets worldwide with a unique portfolio of atmospheric gases,
process and specialty gases, performance materials, and equipment and services.
Founded in 1940, Air Products has built leading positions in key growth markets
such as semiconductor materials, refinery hydrogen, home healthcare services,
natural gas liquefaction, and advanced coatings and adhesives. The company is
recognized for its innovative culture, operational excellence and commitment to
safety and the environment. Air Products has annual revenues of $10 billion,
operations in over 40 countries, and 22,000 employees around the globe. For more
information, visit www.airproducts.com.

WACKER in Brief
WACKER (www.wacker.com) is a globally active chemical company headquartered in
Munich. With a wide range of state-of-the-art specialty products, WACKER is a
leader in numerous industrial sectors. Its products are required in countless
high-growth end-user sectors such as photovoltaics, electronics, pharmaceuticals
and household/personal care. WACKER POLYMERS is currently the global leader in
dispersible polymer powders for construction applications. In 2006, the WACKER
Group posted sales of some EUR3.34 billion, with approx. 80 percent being earned
outside Germany. WACKER currently employs about 14,700 persons at 22 production
sites in Europe, the Americas and Asia and in some 100 sales offices worldwide.
Wacker Chemie AG is listed on the Frankfurt (Germany) Stock Exchange (ISIN:
DE000WCH8881).

This press release contains forward-looking statements based on assumptions and
estimates of the executive boards of WACKER and Air Products. 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 and / or Air Products do not plan to update the forward-looking
statements, nor do they assume the obligation to do so.

Further inquiry note:
Wacker Chemie AG
Corporate Communications
Christof Bachmair
Tel.: +49 (0) 89 6279-1830
E-Mail: christof.bachmair@wacker.com

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
Corporate Communications
Robert F. Brown
Tel. +1 610-481-1192
E-Mail: brownrf@airproducts.com

end of announcement euro adhoc 11.12.2007 06:59:14
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emitter: Wacker Chemie AG
Hanns-Seidel-Platz 4
D-81737 München
phone: +49 (0) 89 6279 01
FAX: +49 (0) 89 6279 1770
mail: info@wacker.com
WWW: http://www.wacker.com
sector: Chemicals
ISIN: DE000WCH8881
indexes: CDAX, Classic All Share, HDAX, MDAX, Midcap Market Index, Prime
All Share
stockmarkets: regulated dealing/prime standard: Börse Frankfurt
language: English

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