Ashland Distribution Company, Brenntag, CHEMCENTRAL, Ciba Specialty Chemicals, Celanese and Shell Chemical Company Join Chemicals E-Marketplace.

Business Editors

MIDLAND, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 7, 2000

Common press release by:

Ashland Distribution Company, ATOFINA, BASF, Bayer, BP Amoco, Brenntag, CHEMCENTRAL, Ciba Specialty Chemicals, Dow, DuPont, Celanese, Mitsui Chemicals, Mitsubishi Chemicals, Rhodia, Rohm

and Haas, Shell Chemical Company, Sumitomo Chemical and Van Waters &

Rogers

The online chemical marketplace initiative previously announced by 12 chemical companies has further announced a major expansion of its global presence. Ashland Chemical, Brenntag, CHEMCENTRAL, Ciba Specialty Chemicals, Celanese and Shell Chemical Company have agreed in principle to participate in the global online chemical marketplace which is expected to offer integrated solutions and services for buying and selling basic, intermediate, specialty and fine chemicals.

In mid-May, ATOFINA, BASF, Bayer, BP Amoco, Dow, DuPont, Mitsui Chemicals, Mitsubishi Chemicals, Rhodia, Rohm and Haas, Sumitomo Chemical and Van Waters & Rogers announced the intention to form a new business-to-business (B2B) chemicals e-marketplace that will concentrate primarily on driving efficiencies for contractual sales.

This new chemicals B2B electronic marketplace, targeting an estimated $400 billion market, is intended to facilitate global customer relationships and lower fulfillment costs by moving existing business processes onto the Web.

The marketplace model is expected to streamline existing supply chain activities by providing a one-stop-shopping platform and greater transparency in planning processes.

The online chemical marketplace is targeted to be established during the summer of 2000 as an independent entity with its own management team and board of directors and is expected to have operational business services in place by the end of the year.

NOTE:

This news release contains forward-looking statements based on management's current expectations, estimates and projections. All statements that address expectations or projections about the future, including statements about the company's strategy for growth, product development, market position, expected expenditures and financial results are forward-looking statements. Some of the forward-looking statements may be identified by words like "expects," "anticipates," "plans," "intends," "projects," "indicates," and similar expressions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors, including those discussed more fully elsewhere in this release and in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, particularly its latest annual report on Form 10-K, as well as others, could cause results to differ materially from those stated. These factors include, but are not limited to changes in the laws, regulations, policies and economic conditions, including inflation, interest and foreign currency exchange rates, of countries in which the company does business; competitive pressures; successful integration of structural changes, including restructuring plans, acquisitions, divestitures and alliances; cost of raw materials, research and development of new products, including regulatory approval and market acceptance; and seasonality of sales of agricultural products.