Continental Carbon Company, PACE Ratify Agreement at Ponca City Plant.

PONCA CITY, Okla. -- Continental Carbon Company today announced that the company and the Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers International Union (PACE) have arrived at a new five-year agreement for production and maintenance workers at Continental Carbon's Ponca City, Okla., plant.

While specific terms were not publicly released, the new agreement paves the way for members of PACE Local 5-857 to return to work at the plant, marking the end of a lengthy series of negotiating sessions conducted during the past three and a half years. Throughout this period, these local members were locked out.

"This is good news for the Company, employees and their families at Ponca City, as well as the local communities, customers, and suppliers that have been affected by this dispute," said Continental Carbon President Kim K.T. Pan. "I am heartened by this development and look forward to renewing the relationship with PACE at Ponca City. We welcome our employees back to work. We have a lot of catching up to do."

In the new agreement, Continental Carbon and PACE place a top priority on working together in an atmosphere of trust, harmony, and collaboration to improve the efficiency and productivity of plant operations in response to challenging industry and overall economic conditions. There is no question that the past three years of strained relationships between the Company and PACE has significantly impacted the Ponca City area. The two organizations are committed to working together in strengthening relationships between the company, employees, customers, state and federal agencies, and the community at large.

In addition to the newly confirmed working relationship with PACE Local 5-857 in Ponca City, Continental Carbon has current agreements in place company-wide with three other PACE local units and with a local unit of the United Steelworkers of America.

The new agreement includes a return to work process by which the company and PACE will work together to have production and maintenance members back on the jobs as soon as is practical.

Continental Carbon Company is recognized as a leader in the development and manufacture of furnace-grade carbon blacks used in tire, rubber and other manufacturing applications. Headquartered in Houston, Continental Carbon Company owns and operates production facilities in Alabama, Oklahoma and Texas. Additionally, Continental Carbon Company operates a research and development laboratory, and marketing and sales offices in Ohio, Georgia and North Carolina, and a distribution facility in Ohio. More information about Continental Carbon Company is available on its Web site at www.continentalcarbon.com.