CONTENTS EDITORIAL BRINGING NEW IDEAS TO MARKET DEAR READERS, The PLA BU brought the phospho- rus-based NH 500 flame retardant to market with impressive speed. Without the fruitful collaboration with the DEV GF, this probably wouldn’t have hap- pened so quickly. This is because the team from Data Management and An- alytics (DMA) developed an AI-based platform that significantly speeds up the formulation discovery process. This platform also helps other projects reach their goal faster. And that’s precisely the kind of thing that’s tremendously important these days – being able to respond quickly to customer needs and develop lucrative innovations. Or as our CEO Matthias Zachert puts it: “We have to hold our own despite the dif- ficult business situation and find ways to position our offerings on the world’s markets in the best possible way and simultaneously keep our margins high.” In our cover story (starting on page 6), we present some promising examples of what BUs and GFs are working on right now. The DMA team aren’t the only ones working intensively on the subject of artificial intelligence – their colleagues from the IT GF are too. Read more about the opportunities this could present for LANXESS in the in- terview with Ravindra Hegde on pages 14 and 15. Despite these challenging times, the uplifting stories we’re presenting in this issue have made me quite optimistic. They prove that we here at LANXESS are innovative and creative in many areas. Not for nothing were we recently recognized as an innovative company (page 11). HAPPY READING! MIRKA STEIN, HEAD OF INTERNAL RELATIONS Every edition of Xpress can also be found on the web here. 02 Xpress | 03.2023 Publishing Information Publisher: LANXESS AG, Corporate Communications Person responsible pursuant to Ger- man press law: Claus Zemke, Corporate Communications, 50569 Cologne Editorial team: Mirka Stein, Annette Westhoff, Kathrin Achenbach Layout and production: Westhoff Corporate Publishing, Bonn Printing: Küpper Druck GmbH & Co. KG, Cologne Photos: LANXESS, Adobe Stock, Susanne Ferrari (column) The next issue of Xpress will be published in January. Please send your ideas for topics or your feedback to: xpress@lanxess.com Xpress editorial office, LXS-COM-ICOM, Kennedyplatz 1, 50969 Cologne, Phone +49-221-8885-2587, Fax +49-221-8885-6022, xpress@lanxess.com Xpress is printed on 100 percent recycled paper; only mineral oil-free inks are used. Forward-looking statements: This magazine contains forward-look- ing statements including as- sumptions and opinions on the part of the company and also cites assumptions and opinions of third parties. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors could cause the actual results, financial position, development, or performance of LANXESS AG to differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied herein. LANXESS AG does not guarantee that the as- sumptions underlying such for- ward-looking statements are free from errors nor does it accept any responsibility for the future accu- racy of the opinions expressed in this document or the actual occurrence of the forecast devel- opments. LANXESS AG does not assume any liability (either directly or indirectly) for the information, estimates, target expectations, and/or opinions stated herein, nor should readers rely on them. Furthermore, LANXESS AG does not assume any responsibility for any errors, omissions, or incorrect statements this publication. Accordingly, no representative of LANXESS AG, any of its group companies, or any of their respec- tive bodies accepts any responsi- bility whatsoever arising directly or indirectly from the use of this document. in

04 LANXESS WORLDWIDE FOCUS ON RESEARCH SHANGHAI/CHINA. Researchers from almost every business unit met for the first time in mid-August for an innovation workshop at the APAC Application Develop- ment Center, AADC, in the Shanghai Chemical Industry Park. “We intend to follow up this workshop with others around the world to promote networking among our experts,” explains Susanna Früh, DEV GF. One goal is to enable every researcher in the group to more quickly find the right contact person, the necessary informa- tion, and the most suitable infrastructure for the respec- tive R&D project. The workshop was preceded by a visit from board member Hubert Fink (photo, third from left). In his remarks, Fink emphasized the importance of China as a location for the chemical industry, saying, “Effective collaboration will enable us to successfully meet the challenges we now face.” “I’m excited to continue driving LANXESS forward with all of you. Accordingly, my priority in the coming months will be our FORWARD! program, whose numerous group-wide projects I would like to implement with your support.” Oliver Stratmann succeeded Board Member Michael Pontzen as Chief Financial Officer effective September 1. CEO SAFETY AWARD APPLY NOW Worldwide. The CEO Safety Award is entering the next round. Colleagues around the world are once again invited to submit proj- ects in the field of occupation- al safety. The award recognizes achievements in this field and also helps to share best practices. This is because the projects submitted by the teams have already been implemented successfully – imita- tion is expressly encouraged. The 04 Xpress | 03/2023 colleagues with the most compel- ling project will receive the prize in March 2024 at the QIM when the annual results are announced – handed over personally by CEO Matthias Zachert.   The submitted projects must meet the following criteria:  Focus on the proactive preven- tion of accidents and incidents. Lasting implementation of pro-  instead of one-time cesses activities. Improvement of culture throughout the group. Ability to implement the proj- ect at other LANXESS sites and in other areas. safety the Join in and submit your application by November 23.

FOCUS INNOVATING MEANS MAKING MONEY In times like these, where demand is stag- nant and key financial figures are neg- ative, the focus is on just one question: How can we increase our profits despite the crisis? The third pillar of FORWARD! is comprised of business excellence mea- sures aimed at conquering new markets and acquiring new customers. This requires Research to come up with innovative proj- ects and products as well as the hard work and dedication of a Sales & Marketing team that never tires of seeking out new custom- ers or needs, or strengthening the loyalty of existing customers. “Especially in times like these, we are all dependent on each other and must do our best to position our inno- vations on the market in the best possible way,” CEO Matthias Zachert says, calling on everyone to do their part. After all, the one skill that matters most right now is quickly translating new products or ideas into busi- ness success. A few impressive projects are presented as examples below. UPDATED SALES MODEL The Beverage Technology business line (BT BL), MPP BU, is currently driving a com- pletely new business model forward. Pre- viously, customers purchased Velcorin and Nagardo preservatives by the kilo. “At the present time, we only supply our customers with one product; in the future, we will offer them a complete solution including all of Employee Anja Bret- schneider takes samples of customer beverages to test them for contamination – part of MPP’s full-service package. This is the only way to ensure that the beverage contains the perfect amount of Velcorin or Nagardo. The business situation remains difficult, and LANXESS is responding with its FORWARD! program. “We now need to leverage our potential in the best possible way and translate it into business success,” urges CEO Mat- thias Zachert. The business units and group functions are working intensively on this, and some projects have already achieved promising results. “The customer gets everything from a single source. They don’t have to take care of anything else. Thanks to advanced digitalization, we always know how much Velcorin was consumed each day.” Johannes Samwer 06 Xpress | 03/2023

FOCUS says Philipp Omlor, Head of Sales & Market- ing Services. The situation didn’t improve in 2023 either, with demand for generics collapsing. “It was clear to us that we needed new projects that would contribute to our bottom line in the short term,” Schaffrath says. At Saltigo, short-term means six to twelve months af- ter the initial assessment. To this end, the BU set up the interdisciplinary BOOST task force to give the established project man- agement process an additional boost. The BOOST team reviews potential customers’ portfolios, analyzes their product ranges and molecule patents, and then outlines what profitable projects this might lead to. “When acquiring new customers, we win them over with our expertise, reliability, and trustworthiness. Our customers’ know-how is safe with us,” says Michael Zobel, Head of the Saltigo BU. Like in the past, Saltigo will also weather the current crisis – and the team is doing everything it can to ensure that it does. Within the framework of partnerships with automotive manufacturers, IPG is currently researching the use of tailored iron oxide particles as the cathode material in LFP batteries. 08 Xpress | 03/2023 LANXESS is currently in talks with various LFP manufacturers as well as with well- known automakers to develop this lucrative business sector through cooperative ven- tures and to launch specific projects for the synthesis of cathode materials together with partners from the automotive industry. This includes a development project funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action. Specifically, this project involves the development of an iron oxide-based cathode material that includes the subsequent return of the product to the raw material stream through a recycling process. “If we’re successful, we wouldn’t only have a new market for our main prod- uct, we’d also have been involved in what is currently one of the most important fields of research today: the development of sus- tainable battery technology,” Bartolucci ex- plains. STEPPING UP COMMUNICATION The AII business unit’s sales team believes in maintaining a close relationship with its customers. “This has always been the case, but now we’re stepping communication up a notch so that we don’t miss out on any existing needs and can move straight into negotiations,” says Manuel Johannes, Head of Sales for Germany and Benelux. Unfortunately, demand is currently low and in addition to the existing oversupply, com- RESPONDING TO TRENDS: COMPRE- HENSIVE PRODUCT INFORMATION The slump in demand is hitting the IPG and AII business units particularly hard. The weak construction industry – as one of its main customers for iron oxide pigments – is creating a difficult situation for IPG, and talks with customers aren’t offering any reason to think that things will soon improve. “Low de- mand, continued high inventory levels, and rising interest rates are slowing down the industry. And additional growth drivers from the key Chinese market are simply nonex- istent,” sums up Frank Lueckgen, Head of Global Marketing, IPG BU. IPG and its sales team have to fight for the sale of every ton of iron oxide pigments. “At the same time, we’re also facing severe price pressure, as Chinese competitors are increasingly en- tering the market.” The situation is extreme, “But we’re the market leader and want to keep it that way,” says Lueckgen. The sales team remains in close contact with custom- ers and is positioning itself heavily around the additional value the product solutions of- fer. Lueckgen sees this value in, for example, the environmental product declarations for the iron oxide pigments. “After all, sustain- able construction has long since become a major trend in the industry,” says Lueckgen. “And we recently became the only supplier able to present the environmental footprint of our products in a comprehensive and ver- ified way.” A lot of energy and work went into preparing these declarations – now they just need to ultimately win over customers. NEW PRODUCT APPLICATIONS At the same time, the business unit is seek- ing to expand into new areas of business. The lithium iron phosphate battery project is gaining importance and represents an innovative field for IPG. “As a cathode ac- tive material, lithium iron phosphate (LFP) is becoming a sustainable alternative for electric vehicles compared to materials containing cobalt and nickel,” explains Ste- fano Bartolucci, Head of the Plastics, Paper, and Specialties market segment. By 2030, LFP demand in Europe alone is expected to grow at a rate of more than 20 percent per year, reaching a volume of half a million tons. Technical iron oxides are one of the key precursors of LFP batteries. “With our world-scale plant at the Krefeld-Uerdingen site, we’re one of the largest producers of iron oxides in the world and can provide iron oxide particles in the required size, purity, and morphology, as well as in the necessary quantities,” Bartolucci says.

FOCUS Phosphorus is the basis of the new NH 500 flame retardant – DMA’s AI-supported platform and the PLA team’s product-specific expertise made it possible to replace the old halogen-based product, which was banned under an EU regulation, in a relatively short period of time. they’re following the same strategy as we are,” he explains further. Under the circumstances, the entire Americas sales team has done an “amazing job.” “We’ve leveraged our extremely strong customer relationships built over the years to best maintain our position on the market.” At the same time, his sales team has been feverishly searching for – and finding – new customers. Regular discussions within the Americas team, in-depth mar- ket analyses, and efforts to identify new sales opportunities have led to success: “We were able to close deals with several new customers this year. That gives us a bit of security going forward into 2024.” AI MAKES THE DIFFERENCE It’s not just the business units – the group functions are also hard at work on inno- vations that are paying off for the com- pany. For example, the IT GF is currently working on several projects involving arti- ficial intelligence (see the interview with Ravindra Hegde on pages 14/15), and the Data Management and Analytics unit, “We’ve leveraged our extremely strong cus- tomer relationships built over the years to best maintain our mar- ket position.” Paul Emery 10 Xpress | 03/2023 Development Group Function, has used AI to develop a data platform that allows the latest AI algorithms to be applied. It is used to process and analyze the group’s vast amounts of existing data. “It provides recipe suggestions for new product for- mulations, which it is constantly improv- ing. We keep feeding the platform with its own experimental results, enabling se- quential learning. In the end, we get better and better formulations that meet the spe- cific requirements,” explains Lynn Ferres, DMA, DEV GF. The platform is in high demand. Currently, DMA is working on eleven projects with it. One of its product innovations is the PLA BU’s new phospho- rus-based NH 500 flame retardant. It had already been presented at the K trade fair in the fall of 2022 and was a sensation in that it perfectly replaces the halogen-con- taining flame retardant banned by an EU regulation. “In terms of its flame-retardant properties, it is in no way inferior to the previous product,” Ferres emphasizes. PERFECT COLLABORATION “This product was developed extremely quickly,” says Ferres. “It should be noted that the development of flame retardants is always extremely complex,” adds He Qingliang, who works at the PLA Research Center in Naugatuck. The chemistry of fire is simply chaotic. He and his colleague Christopher Simpson had been tinkering with new flame retardant solutions since 2004, and as a result, they brought a suit- ably large data set with them to DMA in 2022. “This is absolutely crucial for our work – AI can only be used effectively when trained on large quantities of data,” says Ferres. Ferres sees another reason in the perfect collaboration with her two PLA colleagues: “Thanks to their experience and knowledge, we were able to quickly analyze the AI’s recipe suggestions and understand why each formulation worked the way it did.” Now, if certain substanc- es are banned, they know how that will affect a recipe. Currently, the teams from Cologne and Naugatuck are working on developing further formulations based on NH 500. PLA’s customers have specific requirements. To meet them, the recipe needs to be changed. “Machine learning has allowed us to greatly speed up the process, and we have found formulations that meet customer requirements while delivering a stable process and reliable performance,” enthuses Qingliang.

PRODUCTS & QUALITY GREEN CLEANING By the end of the year, the F&F BU will offer sustainable alternatives for all its products – and the new preservatives for cleaning agents and detergents are just as effective against bacteria, fungi, or yeasts as the conventional versions. The sparkling washing machine, the bright white overalls – in Ger- many, everyone was familiar with Klementine the plumber. For over 18 years, she declared in her TV commer- cial: “This detergent doesn’t just make your laundry clean, it makes it pristine.” Every- one knew the commercial and “not only clean, but pristine” became a catchphrase. But hardly anyone recognized the subtle implication. Calling laundry “pristine” add- ed a hint of morality – cleanliness stood for moral superiority. But the days of Klemen- tine the plumber are long gone – and that, too, is no coincidence. As people became more environmentally aware, the question became more complex: what kind of clean- liness is actually the best? In the fields of health care, research, and industrial appli- cations, different criteria apply to cleaning agents and disinfectants than in a normal household. Isn’t the use of the strongest cleaning agents and detergents in these areas a sign of selfishness? Do they not care about the environment? The call for gentle, biodegradable products that also have an antibacterial effect and help fight fungi and yeasts in laundry, dishwashing, or coffee making became louder and louder. And LANXESS has long since responded. LANXESS Is in the Following Products 1. Leather polish 2. Dishwashing detergent 3. Coffee maker cleaner 4. Fabric softener 5. Laundry detergent 6. All-purpose cleaner for floors and bathrooms 7. Air freshener 8. Wet wipes for delicate baby skin 2 1 3 4 5 6 Kalaguard® SB: An Excellent Choice for Laundry This product from the F&F business unit is a reliable preservative for a fairly wide range of conceivable household cleaning agents and detergents. It’s everybody’s darling, so to speak, as the preservative is found in all-purpose cleaners as well as in bathroom cleaners, coffee maker cleaners, leather polish, wet wipes, fabric softeners, and air fresheners. This is because Kalaguard® SB is nature identical and, according to the EU’s Biocidal Products Regulation, the only sodium ben- zoate approved for the home care sector. The European Chemicals Agency has described sodium benzoate as superior to other substances in terms of the environ- ment as well as human and animal health. But why are preservatives so important? “They’re absolutely essential, especially in mild cleaning agents,” says Philipp Borgs, Global Marketing Director Benzo- ates, F&F BU. “The milder a water-based product is, the more effective the preservative needs to be,” he explains. “Otherwise it will spoil.” Kalaguard® SB was able to clearly demonstrate its effectiveness in efficacy tests for a fabric softener, a dishwashing detergent, and a pH-balanced cleaner. The tests showed that the preservative efficiently inhibits a wide range of unwanted and potentially harmful microorganisms. This includes Candida albicans (yeast), Aspergillus brasiliensis (filamentous mold), and various bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli, among others. In formulations with a higher pH, the anti- microbial effect of Kalaguard® SB can be further enhanced with the multifunctional active ingredient Emerald X7®, which is also nature identical. Emerald X7® improves the efficacy of stain removers, for example. 12 Xpress | 03/2023

PRODUCTS & QUALITY OUR NEW BEST FRIEND? What should I write about in my essay for history class? How should I phrase an email to my business partner? Remind me how the rule of three works again, and how did the last Harry Potter book end? Since the launch of the Chat GPT language model, artificial intelligence (AI) has been a hot topic, even among fifth graders. But can AI really do it all? “Yes – but only with our help,” says Ravindra Hegde, IT GF, in an interview with Xpress. 14 Xpress | 03/2023

PUZZLES & COMPETITIONS! 1. A TRICKY TASK The equation below is not correct. Moving one matchstick will fix it. Do you know which one? 2. WHAT PRODUCTS ARE MANUFACTURED AT THE LAVAL PRODUCTION SITE IN FRANCE? a. Cosmetics for women and men b. Biosecurity products for humans and animals c. Deodorants and perfumes that smell good 3. SPOT THE DIFFERENCE There are five differences between the two photos. Can you find them? LANXESS MEANS ... lancer More sustainable production: Starting in October, the Polymer Additives business unit will produce the plasticizer Mesamoll® with a 30 percent share of sustainable raw materials. This will reduce the plasticizer’s product carbon footprint by around 20 percent. “Helping our customers reduce their carbon footprint while meeting the demands for phthalate-free, reliable, and high-performance solutions makes us a pioneer on the market,” says BU Head Karsten Job. Mesamoll® is found in a wide range of polymers such as PVC, PUR, and rubber. success A long tradition: On September 20, the LANXESS site in Épierre, France, cele- brated its 100th anniversary. The facility has been part of the Polymer Additives BU since 2013. Its 33 employees produce phosphorus products used in the manu- facture of flame retardants, agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, and fine chemicals. In 2015, the site also resumed production of phosphoric acid esters, which are used as additives to protect against corrosion and wear in hydraulic and industrial gear oils. Board Member Anno Borkowsky traveled to Épierre for the celebrations, saying, “I’m delighted that a site with such a long his- tory is part of our company. Épierre plays an important role in our global production network for flame retardants.” JOIN IN AND WIN Want to win a water resis- tant, removable bike bag? Then send the answer to question 2 to xpress@lanxess.com. Participation is only open to employees of LANXESS and its subsidiaries (excluding Corporate Communications employees). Only one entry per participant allowed. All decisions are final. The solution will appear in the next edition of Xpress. Steffen Kern from Germany was the winner of the quiz in Xpress 02/2023. The correct answer to the second question was option B. 16 Xpress | 03/2023

PEOPLE & TEAMWORK / SITE PROFILE “WE WANT TO GROW AND DO EVEN MORE RESEARCH!” Theseo’s headquarters in Laval, France, together with its production and research departments, have been part of the Material Protection Products BU since 2021. Stéphane Burglohner, Production and Site Manager at the site, and Arnaud Anty, Head of Scientific Support & Development, explain how their colleagues experienced the integration process. Theseo’s former headquarters is located in the town of Laval in northwestern France. Production continued without interruption during the integration process. 18 Xpress | 03/2023

PRODUCTS & QUALITY / SITE PROFILE MPP Site in Laval The site in northwestern France was founded in 1972 and was the original head- quarters of Theseo France. It specializes in liquid hygiene products and nutritional sup- plements. Of the 44 employees on site, 14 work in production and eight in the laboratory. Its main product is TH4+®, which has been on the market since the early 1980s. Today, it still accounts for about half of the site’s total production volume. TH5® was launched in 2004 and has also developed into a bestseller. Mefisto Shock was added later. The products are supplied to 40 countries around the world. The latest product developed in-house in Laval is TH Gold®. This disinfectant is unique in that it can be used in organic farming in accordance with EU regulations. Its water-soluble formulation based on formic acid with the addition of a surfactant mixture is effective against viruses and bacteria, even at a one percent concen- tration. Its specific formulation is patented. 20 Xpress | 03/2023 A lab technician prepares samples for analysis. Mr. Anty, do you believe anything has improved since the integration? Arnaud Anty: Yes, our lab work, which we also conduct in Laval. Before we joined LANXESS, the R&D lab in Laval was unable to perform microbial testing. We focused on the formulation of prod- ucts and their potential applications. LANXESS decided to invest both in our personnel – we now have our own microbiologist – and in our facilities. We’re even starting to work on viruses now, making us the first laboratory at LANXESS to be able to test for virucidal activity. Following the integration of IFF, the lab in Laval will also become a center for analytical development (Chemistry and Application, ACD). This is a signifi- cant improvement and we are extremely happy about it. Mr. Burglohner and Mr. Anty, what’s your greatest wish for the Laval site? Stéphane Burglohner: The answer is simple: we want to grow, both in produc- tion and in R&D. If we sell more, we pro- duce more and unlock more investment opportunities! Arnaud Anty: The lab in Laval is a new asset, a new opportunity for our global R&D! My wish is to support all ACD mar- ket segments with all our labs using scien- tific data and in product development to the best of our ability. When it comes to the lab in Laval, I would like to see it recog- nized as the center of excellence for disin- fectant formulation and analytical chemis- try for ACD, just as the lab in Wilmington is for energy and the lab in Leverkusen is for aerobic microbiology.

QUALITY WORKS. Easy to Transport Once the Air Has Been Let Out Anyone who has ever stood on a stand-up paddle board knows why the woman in the photo is kneeling. It wobbles and feels unsteady – falling off the board into the lake seems unavoid- able. Beginners should opt for larger boards; these are up to three meters long and offer more stability. But just how would you transport such a board? “Thanks to plasticizers like Mesamoll®, which we developed, there are in- flatable stand-up paddle boards,” says Thomas Facklam, Head of Global Application Technology, Polymer Additives Business Unit. The boards can be folded into a manageable package – eliminating the need for a roof rack. “The base material is ac- tually as hard as a plastic window frame. It’s simply rigid PVC. The plasticizers are what make it more flexible,” explains Fack- lam. Incidentally, Mesamoll® from LANXESS is free of phthal- ates that are hazardous to health, and as of October this year will always consist of 30 percent sustainable raw materials. Inflatable paddle boards have another major advantage: the cheapest models are available for as little as 200 euros. In con- trast, solid paddle boards start at around 1000 euros. www.lanxess.com bayferrox.com