Rockwood Press Release

Rockwood Holdings
Pledges Support to Katrina Fund

Princeton, NJ USA (September 6, 2005) - In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the United States Gulf Coast region on August 29, 2005, Rockwood Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ROC, “Rockwood”) has pledged financial support to the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund (www.bushclintonkatrinafund.org), an umbrella organization headed by former U.S. Presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton that is collecting donations to assist in the long-term recovery plan for the states affected by the hurricane.  

Rockwood, a leading global supplier of specialty chemicals and advanced materials, made its initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange on August 17, 2005, less than two weeks before Hurricane Katrina hit the United States.

“Rockwood is very fortunate to have escaped damage from this devastating hurricane, but we are deeply saddened by the impact that this has had on the people of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama,” explained Rockwood Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Seifi Ghasemi. “On behalf of our board, management and employees around the world, we are pleased to pledge our support to the ongoing relief efforts. Furthermore, as a leader in the manufacturing sector, we hope that, by contributing to this critical need, we are encouraging other corporations in our global community to do the same.”

Rockwood Holdings, Inc. is the ultimate parent company of Rockwood Specialties Group, Inc., a leading global specialty chemicals and advanced materials company. Rockwood has a worldwide employee base of approximately 10,200 people and net revenue of approximately $2.9 billion in 2004 on a pro forma basis. The company focuses on global niche segments of the specialty chemicals and advanced materials markets, including specialty chemicals, performance additives, titanium dioxide pigments, advanced ceramics, custom synthesis, specialty compounds and electronics. For more information on Rockwood, please visit www.rocksp.com.

The information set forth in this press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 concerning the business, operations and financial condition of Rockwood Specialties Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates ("Rockwood"). Words such as "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "forecasts," "predicts" and variations of such words or expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although Rockwood believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that its expectations will be realized. "Forward-looking statements" consist of all non-historical information, including the statements referring to the prospects and future performance of Rockwood. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in Rockwood's forward-looking statements due to numerous known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including, among other things, the "Risk Factors" described in Rockwood's 2004 Form 10-K on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Rockwood does not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which any such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.