ALTANA AG: Term of Office Extended.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

BAD HOMBURG, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 5, 2004

The Supervisory Board of ALTANA AG (NYSE:AAA)(FWB:ALT) today extended Dr. Nikolaus Schweickart's period of office as Chairman of the Management Board by a further two years until the Annual General Meeting in 2007. His current term of office expires in April 2005.

Dr. Schweickart, who turned 60 in December last year, has been a member of the ALTANA Management Board for 17 years (since 1987), of which he has spent 14 years as Chairman (since 1990). This makes him one of the longest-serving CEOs amongst the DAX 30 companies.

The Management Board mandate of Dr. Hermann Kuellmer, Chief Financial Officer, was also extended by one year. Dr. Kuellmer will now retire from the Management Board at the end of the Annual General Meeting in 2006. Dr. Kuellmer, who will be 61 this July, has served on the ALTANA Management Board since 1990.

This press release contains forward-looking statements, i.e., current estimates or expectations of future events or future results.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. ALTANA does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update forward-looking statements to reflect facts, circumstances or events that have occurred or changed after such statements have been made.

This press release is also available at www.altana.com.