08.07.2011 – 13:05

Wacker Chemie AG

EANS-News: WACKER Sells its Tire-Release-Agent Business to Rhein Chemie

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Corporate news transmitted by euro adhoc. The issuer/originator is solely
  responsible for the content of this announcement.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Company Information


Munich / Mannheim (euro adhoc) - July 8, 2011 - Wacker Chemie AG has sold its
silicone-based tire-release-agent business to Rhein Chemie Rheinau GmbH. The two
companies signed a purchase agreement to this effect today. Both parties have
agreed not to disclose the purchase price.

As part of the agreement, Rhein Chemie (a Lanxess AG subsidiary) acquires the
rights to related product formulations, as well as existing segment-specific
contracts and inventories. Furthermore, WACKER will continue to supply Rhein
Chemie with the required silicone raw materials, among other products. In 2010,
WACKER generated tire-release-agent sales in the mid one-digit-million range.

"This divestiture streamlines our portfolio of products and solutions," said
Carlos Weise, president of the WACKER SILICONES division. "In contrast to Rhein
Chemie, WACKER does not focus on tire-industry applications. Moreover, a
multiyear agreement ensures that Rhein Chemie will continue to be supplied with
our silicones for the manufacture of tire-release agents."
 
WACKER SILICONES
WACKER SILICONES is one of the largest silicone manufacturers worldwide with
over 3,000 highly specialized and innovative products. The division´s portfolio
ranges from silicone fluids, emulsions, resins, elastomers and sealants to
silanes and pyrogenic silicas. These products stand out due to their significant
value-adding potential - enhancing both the benefits and performance of
customers´ end products. Products from WACKER SILICONES find application in such
sectors as construction, chemicals, cosmetics, textiles, automotive, paper and
electronics. In 2010, WACKER SILICONES generated some 33 percent of Group sales.

About Rhein Chemie
Rhein Chemie develops, produces and sells additives, specialty chemicals and
service products for the rubber, lubricant and plastics industries. In 2010,
Rhein Chemie achieved sales of EUR283 million and has approximately 1,000
employees worldwide. The company is headquartered in Mannheim, Germany, and
operates production facilities in Europe, Asia and North and South America.
Rhein Chemie is a wholly owned subsidiary of the specialty chemicals group
LANXESS based in Leverkusen, Germany.
 
This press release contains forward-looking statements based on assumptions and
estimates of WACKER´s Executive Board. Although we assume the expectations in
these forward­looking 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 forward­looking statements, nor does it assume the obligation
to do so.


Further inquiry note:
Christof Bachmair
Media Relations & Information
Tel.: +49 (0)89 6279 1830
E-Mail:  christof.bachmair@wacker.com

end of announcement                               euro adhoc 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


company:     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:     Midcap Market Index, MDAX, CDAX, Classic All Share, HDAX, Prime All
             Share
stockmarkets: regulated dealing/prime standard: Frankfurt 
language:   English