Reichhold Reports Fire at Czech Republic Facility

    RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.--Nov. 22, 2002--Reichhold, Inc. announced today that the Spolchemie plant in Usti nad Labem in the Czech Republic where Reichhold's products are tolled produced, experienced a fire on November 21 at approximately 9:00 p.m. Czech time.
    The Spolchemie resin plant (UP II) is a five-story building in the center of Spolchemie which is used for manufacturing epoxy resins, unsaturated polyesters, coating resins and specialty resins. The plant suffered extensive damage. Sixty fire brigades stopped the fire at 4:00 a.m. today. No injuries were reported and the appropriate authorities are accessing the damage and investigating the cause of the fire. At this time, there are no reports of any negative environmental impact to the city of Usti.
    Production at the Usti nad Labem site has been halted. The company will continue to serve its customers by utilizing other Reichhold global facilities, including its 9 sites in Europe. Actions have been already taken with immediate effect.
    Further details will be provided, as they become available. All media inquiries should be referred to Beth Roden at (919) 990-7800 or beth.roden@reichhold.com.

    About Reichhold

    Reichhold, with its world headquarters and technology center in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA, is a leading manufacturer of unsaturated polyester resins, coating and performance resins for the automotive, appliances, coatings, plastics, textile, construction, transportation, marine and graphic arts markets.
    Celebrating its 75th anniversary, Reichhold has manufacturing operations throughout North America, Latin America and Europe. Founded in 1927, Reichhold is owned by Dainippon Ink & Chemicals (Tokyo, 4631), the world's largest producer of printing inks and polyester resins.