PITTSBURGH, April 22, 2002—Sybron Chemicals Inc., a Bayer Corporation subsidiary, has received National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) certification for its Ionac® SR 7 nitrate selective anion exchange resin, the corporation announced today.

Ionac SR 7 is the first nitrate selective resin to receive NSF certification under NSF Standard 61 for potable water municipal installations as a process media. Earlier, NSF certified Sybron's Ionac C249 NS non-solvent softening resin under its Standard 44 for cation exchange water softeners and under Standard 61 as a process media.

Sybron's Ionac SR 7 resin has more than three times the selectivity for nitrate than similar products. The resin's chemistry prevents "nitrate dumping" against high sulfate backgrounds. Its high porosity, stable structure and limited reversible swelling promote durability and kinetic superiority.

Founded in 1944, the independent, non-profit NSF develops nationally uniform and voluntary health and environmental standards for the water treatment and similar industries. NSF certified products have passed stringent tests designed to ensure that they are safe when used in accordance with manufacturers' recommendations.

"Sybron Chemicals is pleased to have the first nitrate selective ion exchange resin to meet NSF's exacting safety and environmental standards," Jay Richey, Sybron's Vice President and General Manager, said. "This is another example of the steps we are taking to provide quality products that meet the increasing needs of our customers and the end users," he said.

Best known for its flagship product, Bayer Aspirin, Bayer Corporation produces a broad range of health care, life sciences and chemical products that help diagnose and treat diseases, purify water, preserve local landmarks, protect crops, advance automobile safety and durability and improve people's lives.

Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Bayer Corporation had sales of $10.1 billion in 2001 and is one of Fortune magazine's Most Admired Companies. The company employs 21,500 people. It is a member of the worldwide Bayer Group, a $27 billion international health care and chemicals group based in Leverkusen, Germany. The Bayer Group stock is a component of the DAX and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker symbol: BAY).

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.