James P. Berresse resigns as Columbian’s CEO

September 22, 2006

Columbian Chemicals Company, a leading carbon black manufacturer, today announced that James P. (Jim) Berresse, who has served as president and CEO since April 2002, has informed the company’s board of directors of his resignation and plans to pursue other business opportunities, effective immediately. Columbian’s board is commencing a search for a successor to Mr. Berresse. Columbian’s Senior Vice President of Operations, J.S. Lee, will serve as interim CEO.

“We appreciate Jim’s stewardship through the sale process and the ownership change, and we wish him continued success,” said Soo Y. Lee, Columbian’s Chairman. “Our priority in this transition is for Columbian to fully capitalize on the opportunities that lie ahead with a new leader. We will continue to provide the highest quality products and superior service to our customers around the globe. Over the next few months, we will also continue to move forward on several key growth initiatives.”

Columbian is currently in the middle of a nearly $200 million capital spend, which includes a greenfield facility in Bahia, Brazil, and cogeneration facilities in the U.S. and Spain.

Columbian Chemicals Co. is one of the world’s leading producers of carbon black – an engineered material that improves the strength, durability and overall performance of a range of products including tires and other mechanical rubber goods, as well as inks, paints, plastics and coatings. The company is the only major global carbon black manufacturer to have earned the ISO 14001 certification, an internationally recognized standard for environmental management, at all of its manufacturing facilities.

Based in Marietta, Georgia, Columbian Chemicals Co. owns and operates 11 carbon black manufacturing facilities in Brazil, Canada, England, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Korea, Spain and the United States, employing about 1,300 people worldwide.