Cologne - The Kölnarena – a major events location in the German city of Cologne – is to be named after the specialty chemicals group LANXESS AG. The company has signed an agreement to this effect with Kölnarena Management GmbH. It takes effect immediately and will run for a period of ten years. Details will be announced at an upcoming press conference.

"As a company with deep roots in the region, we are proud to give our name to the Kölnarena. It is very well known in Cologne, in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia and indeed throughout Germany," said Axel C. Heitmann, Chairman of the Board of Management of LANXESS AG. "We had been looking for a landmark in the area to demonstrate our faith in the region and in Germany as a whole. Through this commitment, LANXESS is giving a definite "thumbs-up" to North Rhine-Westphalia in the long term!"

82 percent of the German population aged between 14 and 69 years have heard of the arena. 1.8 million visitors come every year to the 150-180 different shows, music, sports and corporate events. The future LANXESS arena is by far the best known and the most frequently used of all comparable event arenas in Germany. "We want to make use of the aura and high profile of the arena plus the attractiveness of the city of Cologne to benefit the LANXESS brand," continued Heitmann. "For many of our employees in North Rhine-Westphalia, the arena is an integral part of their leisure time." LANXESS employs some 8,000 people at its largest global sites in Krefeld-Uerdingen, Dormagen and Leverkusen.

Also for R. Bernd Assenmacher, Executive Director of Kölnarena Management GmbH, the agreement with LANXESS is an important step: "The involvement of LANXESS is an important pillar that will enable us to retain our leading position as an event location and allow visitors to enjoy an entertaining program in a very comfortable environment. When deciding on the future sponsor, the Kölnarena Management GmbH made sure the company had a strong relationship with the region, continued Assenmacher. "In this respect, we have won an ideal partner in LANXESS as the largest specialty chemicals company in Germany."

LANXESS has already been a premium partner of the arena since the beginning of this year, renting a corporate box and prominently publicizing the LANXESS brand on advertising space in the arena and in various advertising materials. The Group will also use the arena for its own events. From 2009, for example, the Annual Stockholders' Meeting of LANXESS AG will be held in the future LANXESS arena.