PITTSBURGH, PA - December 18,2002: Color your world with Leda's^TM seven families of compounded color effects being launched as part of Bayer Plastics' Fantasia^TM color and special effects initiative for engineering resins. Leda uses Bayer Plastics' Makrolon^® polycarbonate and Bayblend^® polycarbonate/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene resins with a broad range of special effects options, color choices and customized solutions.

Leda's seven families of effects, which were developed by the Color Development Lab at Bayer Plastics/ facility in Hebron, Ohio, include:

• Sass^TM - an edge glow effect using pale tints with subtle color intensification at the edges for a radiant glow.

• Mirage^TM - an angular metameric effect using color that changes as the viewing angle changes.

• Aria^TM - a translucent effect creating a subtle outcome and, by using differing levels of clarity, allows you to decide how much the eye will see.

• Mina^TM - a metallic effect using small metal flakes to create the appearance of a metal surface.

• Aster^TM - a metal flake effect using larger metallic particles to produce a futuristic appeal.

• Diva^TM - a sparkle and shimmer effect using small shiny particleswith variable intensities and colors.

• Azar^TM - a fluorescent effect using high-energy colors that add vibrancy to any application.

"With Leda, coloration and special effects are added into our clear or black resins, which means our customers have fewer procedures and need less equipment and labor when making parts," said Michael George, Color Development Laboratory Supervisor, Bayer Plastics. "This, along with the Color Development Lab's ability to match exact color requirements, makes Leda an exciting option for our customers."

Introduced to the market in September 2002, Fantasia is the industry's most complete, one-stop solution for color and special effects. To meet customer's wide range of design, processing and cost parameters, Fantasia includes five separate technologies for adding visual and tactile effects:

• Aura^TM - A proprietary color infusion technology.
• Leda^TM - Compounded color effect options for resins.
• Imagio^TM - High quality see and feel coatings.
• Faria^TM - Film-insert molding technology.
• Milena^TM - Colors for optical media.

"Never before could a customer choose so many color and special effect technologies from one supplier," said John Skabardonis, Bayer Plastics Makrolon^® Polycarbonate Marketing Manager.

Fantasia's broad range of color and special effects are designed to give a unique look and feel to the product. The look depends on the interaction of light with the product's shape. To most effectively illustrate this, Bayer has designed a marketing tool for customers that includes a wide-range of three-dimensional "spoons" to showcase many of the see-and-feel effects and the capabilities of each of the five technologies.

For more information on Leda and Fantasia or to schedule a meeting with a Bayer Plastics' sales representative, call 1-877-229-3758 or visit http://www.BayerFantasia.com.

Best known for its flagship product, Bayer Aspirin, Bayer Corporation produces a broad range of health care, crop protection, polymer 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).

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