Rockwood Press Release

Rockwood Pigments Announces Price Increases

BELTSVILLE, MD (January 12, 2004) - Rockwood Pigments has announced plans to raise prices worldwide for its iron oxide and natural color pigments, effective January 12, 2004.

“In spite of our intense efforts to improve productivity and reduce expenses, we are required to adjust our prices to partially offset the dramatic increase in raw materials, such as scrap steel, natural gas and other energy-related costs and ocean transportation,” said Ronald L. Rapaport, Managing Director of the Pigments Division. “In order for us to continue to provide our customers with the quality, service and supply assurance they expect, we must begin to recover a portion of the dramatic cost increases that our business continues to experience.”

Rockwood Pigments is the second largest supplier of iron oxide pigments in the world and supplies a wide range of inorganic pigments used in coatings, colorants, plastics, rubber, paper, vinyl, cosmetics, pet food, ink, toner, concrete products and other industrial applications. The company has North American operating sites in St. Louis, MO; Beltsville, MD; Los Angeles, CA; Cartersville GA; Bromont, Canada and international operations in Turin, Italy; Walluf, Germany; Matlock, United Kingdom, China and Singapore. Rockwood Pigments is part of Rockwood Specialties Inc., Princeton, New Jersey, U.S.A.

Rockwood, headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey, USA, is a leading global specialty chemical company with sales of more than $800 million. The company focuses on niche segments of the specialty chemical market, including additives, specialty compounds, electronic chemicals, materials and services. Rockwood Specialties maintains operations in North America, Europe and Asia with a workforce of over 2,500 employees.