H.C. Starck Develops Thermal Management Components for HB-LEDs and Laser Diodes

NEWTON, Mass.--July 27, 2006--H.C. Starck develops and manufactures thermal management components for HB-LEDs (High Brightness LEDs) and laser diodes, such as MoCu composites, Cu/Mo/Cu laminates, and plated Mo-flat products. The reliability and efficiency of semiconductor devices can be improved by maximizing the thermal conductivity of the heat dissipating components, while matching their coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) to those of the diodes. Specialty coatings with Ni, Au, Ag, Ru, Rh, Pt are available for solder-wetting, etch-resistance, protective layers, and electrical contacts. Additional products under development provide enhanced thermal conductivity along the z-axis (through-thickness) and the unique capability to tailor excessive heat dissipation along localized hot spots, using a special, patent pending process developed by H.C. Starck.

About H.C. Starck

H.C. Starck is an international group of companies with more than 3,400 employees at production sites in Europe, North America and the Far East. Widely known for its technology in refractory metals, ceramics, and chemicals for the electronic, semiconductor, and optical industries, H.C. Starck has been a member of the Bayer Group since 1986. For additional information visit www.hcstarck.com.

Bayer Corporation, headquartered in Pittsburgh, is part of the worldwide Bayer Group, an international health care, nutrition and innovative materials group based in Leverkusen, Germany. In North America, as of April 2005, Bayer employed about 16,000 and had net sales of 8.3 billion euros. Bayer's three operating companies -- Bayer HealthCare LLC, Bayer CropScience LP and Bayer MaterialScience LLC -- improve people's lives through a broad range of essential products that help diagnose and treat diseases, protect crops and advance automobile safety and durability.

This news release contains forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group 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. These factors include those discussed in our public reports filed with the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (including our Form 20-F). The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.