Arch Chemicals, Inc. Acquires Assets of Walker Brothers; Broadens Arch's Wood Protection Product Line.

Business Editors

NORWALK, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 9, 2001

Arch Chemicals, Inc. (NYSE: ARJ) announced today that it recently acquired the assets of Walker Brothers, a division of Consolidated Coatings, broadening Arch's range of wood treatment products and services.

Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Walker Brothers manufactures anti-sapstain products and provides related equipment and services to sawmills that use these products. Walker Brothers had approximately $2 million in net sales in 2000.

The assets will be integrated into Arch's Wood Protection business within Arch's Treatment Products segment. Arch intends to continue to employ company personnel at present locations.

"This acquisition allows us to augment our capabilities in short-term surface treatments of wood and complements our worldwide expertise in long-term pressure-applied treatments," said Steve Wisnewski, president of Arch Wood Protection, Inc. "It will offer our customers in North America a broader range of wood treatment products and services."

Anti-sapstain products are biocidal blends applied to freshly cut lumber to prevent the growth of microrganisms that cause discoloration of the wood. The treatment thus helps the wood to maintain its bright appearance and to retain its value before it is sold, particularly during periods of long storage such as occurs in exportation. Arch's long-term preservatives, impregnated into softwood species under pressure, impart decades-long resistance to termites and fungal decay for wood used in decks, fences, walkways and other exposed applications.

Arch Chemicals, Inc., headquartered in Norwalk, Conn., is a global specialty chemicals company with leadership positions in four key segments -- Microelectronic Materials, HTH Water Products, Treatment Products and Performance Products. In addition, Arch's businesses include Hydrazine and Sulfuric Acid. Arch serves world leaders in these key markets with forward-looking solutions to meet their chemical needs, employing a global workforce and manufacturing facilities in North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Africa.

You can get more information about Arch Wood Protection by visiting www.wolmanizedwood.com. For more information about Arch Chemicals, Inc., visit our web site at www.archchemicals.com.

The information contained in this document contains forward-looking statements that are based on management's beliefs, certain assumptions made by management and management's current expectations, estimates and projections about the markets and economy in which Arch Chemicals, Inc. and its various businesses operate. Words such as "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "forecasts," "opines," "plans," "predicts," "projects," "should," "targets," "will," and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions ("Future Factors") which are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expected or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. Arch Chemicals, Inc. does not undertake any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of future events, new information or otherwise. Future Factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed include but are not limited to: general economic and business and market conditions, lack of moderate growth in the U.S. or European economies, increases in interest rates, the continued recovery of economic conditions in Asia, further strengthening of the U.S. dollar against the euro, customer acceptance of new products, loss of a key customer, higher than expected raw material costs for chemical product lines, increased foreign competition in the calcium hypochlorite markets, lack of stability, recovery or growth in the semiconductor industry, Arch Chemicals, Inc.'s ability to maintain chemical price increases, the supply/demand balance for its products, including the impact of excess industry capacity, failure to achieve targeted cost reductions, quality improvement and operating efficiency programs, unsuccessful entry into new markets for electronic chemicals, capital expenditures, such as cost overruns, in excess of those scheduled, the occurrence of unexpected manufacturing interruptions/outages at its and customer plants, environmental costs in excess of those projected, unfavorable weather conditions for swimming pool use, unsuccessful restructuring of the process chemicals business, increased competitive and/or customer pressure, failure of customers to accept new products such as deep UV, efficacy of new technology, the ability to sell the Hickson Organics division, unsuccessful integration of acquired businesses, the inability to sell the Hickson organics business at the Company's desired price, changes in U.S. laws and regulations, and unfavorable arbitration, court or jury decisions.