January 30, 2008

Dr. Karin Aßmann
Communication Services
Telephone +49 69 218-2230
Telefax      +49 69 218-3849
karin.assmann@evonik.com
Evonik Degussa GmbH
Rodenbacher Chaussee 4
63457 Hanau-Wolfgang
www.evonik.com

Chairman of the Supervisory Board
Dr. Werner Müller
Management Board
Dr. Klaus Engel (Chairman), 
Dr. Alfred Oberholz (dep.chm.),
Ralf Blauth, Dr. Manfred Spindler,
Heinz-Joachim Wagner, 
Patrik Wohlhauser

Registered office: Essen
Local Court: Essen
Commercial Register B 20227
New distribution channel: Homogeneous catalysts from Evonik now available from Sigma-Aldrich for research

Evonik Industries announces that as of February 1, Sigma-Aldrich will offer Evonik´s catASium® and catCXium® product families. Sample amounts of these homogeneous catalysts are being made available, for research purposes, from the Sigma-Aldrich Corporation based in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. The range will consist of ligands and metal complex catalysts for asymmetric hydrogenations (casASium® family) as well as for palladium catalyzed C-X coupling reactions (cataCXium® family). 

“With these ligands we are covering a broad spectrum of organic syntheses to prepare complex molecules starting from simple starting materials,” said Dr. Jürgen Krauter, responsible for marketing in Evonik`s Catalysts Business Line. “Through the broad distribution capabilities of Sigma-Aldrich we are offering chemists in research and development easy access to these homogeneous catalysts.”

“This means a significant step forward for us to become a leading provider in (asymmetric) catalysis, one of today’s most important areas in organic chemistry,” said Dr. Daniel Weibel, product manager for asymmetric synthesis at Sigma-Aldrich. Commercial amounts of the homogeneous catalysts will continue to be distributed by Evonik.

Sigma-Aldrich is a leading Life Science and High Technology company. Its biochemical and organic chemical products and kits are used in scientific and genomic research, biotechnology, pharmaceutical development, the diagnosis of disease and as key components in pharmaceutical and other high technology manufacturing. The Company has customers in life science companies, university and government institutions, hospitals, and in industry. Over one million scientists and technologists use its products. Sigma-Aldrich operates in 36 countries and has 7,600 employees providing excellent service worldwide. Sigma-Aldrich is committed to accelerating Customer success through leadership in Life Science, High Technology and Service. For more information about Sigma-Aldrich, please visit its award-winning Web site at http://www.sigma-aldrich.com.

Evonik is a leading supplier of catalytic system solutions. It offers a broad portfolio of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts from one hand as well as a comprehensive service package for customers from Life Sciences, fine chemistry, industrial chemicals, intermediates and polymers.

Company information
Evonik Industries is the creative industrial group from Germany which operates in three business areas: Chemicals, Energy and Real Estate. Evonik is a global leader in specialty chemicals, an expert in power generation from hard coal and renewable energies, and one of the largest private residential real estate companies in Germany. Our strengths are creativity, specialization, continuous self-renewal, and reliability. Evonik is active in over 100 countries around the world. In its fiscal year 2006 more than 43,000 employees generated sales of about Euro 14.8 billion and an operating profit (EBIT) of over Euro 1.2 billion. 

Disclaimer
In so far as forecasts or expectations are expressed in this press release or where our statements concern the future, these forecasts, expectations or statements may involve known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results or developments may vary, depending on changes in the operating environment. Neither Evonik Industries AG nor its group companies assume an obligation to update the forecasts, expectations or statements contained in this release.