FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 30, 2007

MAKROLON HYGARD® Bullet Resistant Glazing Offers Superior Abrasion Resistance

Sheffield, MA — MAKROLON HYGARD® bullet resistant glazing from Sheffield Plastics Inc., a Bayer MaterialScience Company, offers bullet resistant containment up to UL 752 Level 3. It also offers greater optical clarity and more abrasion resistance than competing polycarbonate sheets. In an independent ASTM 1044-99 Taber Test, after 100 cycles using a 500 gram load, the MAKROLON HYGARD exceptional scratch-resistant coating showed 67% less haze than the competitive sheet.

“Our products are engineered to help architects, designers and specifiers meet a wide range of demanding architectural security and protection needs,” said Karl Wiecking, Architectural Market Segment Manager, Sheffield Plastics. “These needs include resistance to impact, burglary, ballistics, forced entry and physical attack. It is also optimal in containment applications and protects against high velocity wind events.”

MAKROLON HYGARD BR laminates accomplish this with three superior products: BR750, BR1000 and BR1250. The BR750 is a three-ply MAKROLON polycarbonate sheet with an acrylic interlayer suited for security applications requiring UL Listed Level 1 bullet resisting glazing. The BR1000 is a four-ply MAKROLON polycarbonate sheet manufactured for use in security applications requiring UL Listed Level 2 bullet resisting glazing. The BR1250 is also a four-ply MAKROLON polycarbonate sheet, but its superior strength is suited for high level security applications requiring UL Listed Level 3 bullet resisting glazing.

The MAKROLON HYGARD BR1250, BR1000 and BR750 offer excellent abrasion and UV resistant surfaces for extended service life in harsh environments. They are used in a wide variety of establishments, including 24-hour convenience stores, specialty retailers, banks, government and detention facilities, as well as other cash transaction areas.

The MAKROLON HYGARD BR750 weighs 5.1 lbs. per square foot and has a gauge/tolerance of .780 +/- 8% with 88% light transmittance. It also has a shading coefficient of .89. The BR1000 features a gauge/tolerance of 1.05 +/- 5% and 72% light transmittance, weighing in at 6.5 lbs. per square foot with a shading coefficient of .84. The BR1250, with a weight of 8.1 lbs. per square foot, offers a gauge/tolerance of 1.30 +/- 5%, 67% light transmittance, and a shading coefficient of .81. All MAKROLON HYGARD BR products are clear, with custom colors available upon request, and sizes range from 38”-60” in width and 60”-96” in height, with custom sizes available.

MAKROLON HYGARD is the fastest growing brand of laminate sheet in the world. And the quality of its Bullet Resistant laminates is indicative of the excellence Sheffield Plastics demonstrates in all its architectural glazing products.

Sheffield Plastics, a Bayer MaterialScience Company, is the global leader in high performance plastics. Sheffield continues its leadership in polycarbonate technology with new processes, product innovations and superior optics.

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.

Sheffield Plastics, a Bayer MaterialScience Company
119 Salisbury Road
Sheffield, MA 01257
Phone: 800-254-1707
Website URL: www.sheffieldplastics.com