Rohm and Haas Wood Biocides and Rockwood's CSI Subsidiary to Form Joint Venture

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Princeton, New Jersey, USA, 12 October 2006 -- /PRNewswire/ -- Rohm and Haas Company and Chemical Specialties, Inc. (CSI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Rockwood Holdings, Inc., today announced their plans to form a joint venture company to provide an extensive range of advanced wood treatment technologies and services to the global wood treatment industry.

The new company will bring together the wood biocides business of Rohm and Haas and the wood protection chemicals business of CSI. The joint venture will substantially strengthen the new company's product development programs, marketing, sales, and comprehensive services to the wood treatment market.

The joint venture is equally owned by CSI and Rohm and Haas, and will be headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. CSI would receive a USD 75 million payment from Rohm and Haas as part of the agreement. Rohm and Haas's microbial control business for paints, coatings, and other building and construction products, metalworking, water treatment, mineral processing, as well as household and personal care preservatives would not be included in the joint venture.

According to Steve Ainscough, current president of CSI, who has been named president and CEO of the combined business, this joint venture will be formed to take advantage of the significant growth potential to develop and commercialize new products for the wood treatment industry.

"CSI and Rohm and Haas are a perfect fit. With more than USD 200 million in annual sales, we will be in a unique position to combine our technologies and expertise to provide advanced products and services," said Ainscough. "We have an exciting pipeline of innovative products and, in 2007, we plan to introduce next generation preservatives which have been through more than 10 years of field performance testing. Our customers can expect new, advanced technologies and a broader portfolio of products with proven performance to meet their wood treatment needs. This will enable our customers to deliver wood products that provide long-lasting protection and improved long-term appearance at cost competitive levels required by retailers and the end consumer," he said.

The joint venture plans to commence operation beginning 01 January 2007.

CSI and Rockwood

Chemical Specialties Inc. (CSI), a subsidiary of Rockwood Holdings, Inc., is a leading supplier of wood protection technology to the wood preservation industry. CSI supplies wood treatment technology and preservative formulations to companies that produce a wide range of high-quality treated wood products. CSI provides advanced solutions that improve wood and make it last.

CSI also provides a high level of integrated product support programs implemented by professional technical, marketing, customer service, and product development staff located strategically throughout the United States and Europe. CSI's research and development team produces innovative technologies to maintain the company's position as the recognized leader in market development and technology advancement initiatives in the treated wood industry. For more information on CSI's products and services, visit www.treatedwood.com.

Rockwood Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:ROC) is a leading global specialty chemicals and advanced materials company. Rockwood has a worldwide employee base of approximately 10,800 people and net sales of USD 3.1 billion in 2005. 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, visit www.rocksp.com.

About Rohm and Haas Company

Rohm and Haas is a global pioneer in the creation and development of innovative technologies and solutions for the specialty materials industry. Based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the company generated annual sales of approximately USD 8 billion in 2005. Visit www.rohmhaas.com for more information.

Rohm and Haas and Microbial Control

Rohm and Haas is a global leader in microbial control solutions used for a variety of processes, substrates and products, including paints and coatings, building and construction materials, plastics, water treatment, metalworking fluids, and mineral processing, as well as preservatives for household and personal care applications. For more than 30 years, Rohm and Haas has been applying its extensive technical know-how to solve microbial challenges around the world.