Craig S. Shular Named UCAR's Chief Financial Officer.

DANBURY, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 12, 1998--UCAR International Inc. (NYSE: UCR) today announced that Craig S. Shular will be joining the Company as Chief Financial Officer, effective January 1, 1999. Mr. Shular will be based in Nashville, Tennessee and will have responsibility for treasury, investor relations, mergers and acquisitions, insurance, cash management, foreign exchange risk management, pension fund administration and banking relations.

Mr. Shular, age 45, comes to UCAR with more than 22 years of finance and business experience with Union Carbide Corporation. Mr. Shular began his career with Union Carbide in 1976 in the Carbon Products Division where he worked in the production and financial organizations in Niagara Falls, New York. He moved to corporate headquarters in New York City in 1979 as an internal auditor. In 1982, he transferred to the Far East serving as Financial Controller for Indonesia and later as Area Finance Manager for Asia Pacific.

In 1986, Mr. Shular returned to corporate headquarters in Danbury in the capacity of Currency and Interest Risk Manager. In 1989, he returned to the Far East as Area Treasurer for Asia Pacific and later as Business Director/General Manager for the emulsion systems latex business. In 1995, he relocated to Milan, Italy to assume his most recent position as Corporate Treasurer of Polimeri Europa S.r.l., an ethylene and polyethylene joint venture between Union Carbide and ENICHEM, an Italian government company. Mr. Shular is a Certified Public Accountant with an undergraduate degree and an MBA from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

"Craig and I worked together when I was Vice President of the worldwide latex business at Union Carbide," commented Gilbert E. Playford, President and Chief Executive Officer. "He is a high achiever and brings to UCAR extensive management breadth in business and finance. He will be a great addition to our senior management team as a member of the Business and Company Councils."

The Company also announced today that Michael T. Norton, currently the Director of Investor Relations and Risk Management, has elected to take early retirement in early 1999 after more than 33 years of outstanding and loyal service to UCAR. Donald K. White will be assuming responsibilities as Director of Investor Relations, reporting to Craig S. Shular, the incoming Chief Financial Officer. Most recently, Mr. White served as Manager of Administration for the GRAFOIL(R) business in Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. White, age 42, has been with UCAR for 19 years, serving primarily in the Canadian operations where he has extensive experience in Marketing, Sales and Operations Management. Mr. White holds a Bachelors Degree in Biology from University of Toronto and an MBA in Finance from McMasters University. Mr. White has served as past chairman of the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.

UCAR International Inc. is the largest manufacturer of graphite and carbon electrodes in the world, with sales in more than 80 countries and manufacturing facilities on four continents. Graphite electrodes, the Company's principal product, are consumed primarily in the production of steel in electric arc furnaces, the steelmaking technology used by all "mini-mills," and for refining steel in ladle furnaces. The Company is also the leading producer of cathode blocks that are consumed in the production of aluminum. The Company also manufactures GRAFOIL(R) flexible graphite and other graphite and carbon products, as well as cooling systems and components for steelmaking furnaces and other high temperature applications.

NOTE: This news release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include statements about such matters as electric arc furnace ("EAF") steel production, graphite electrode sales and demand, future operational and financial performance of existing and acquired businesses, legal matters, divestiture, joint venture, operating and capital projects, costs, cost savings and reductions, margins, and earnings growth. The Company has no duty to update such statements. Actual future events and circumstances (including future performance, results and trends) could differ materially from those set forth in such statements due to various factors. Such factors include the possibility that announced additions to EAF steel production capacity may not occur or that increased EAF steel production may not result in increased demand or prices for graphite electrodes, the occurrence of unanticipated events or circumstances relating to investigations by antitrust authorities in various jurisdictions or related antitrust lawsuits, securities lawsuits or shareholder derivative lawsuits, the assertion of other claims relating to such investigations or lawsuits or the subject matter thereof, the occurrence of unanticipated events or circumstances relating to recently acquired businesses, the occurrence of unanticipated events or difficulties relating to divestiture, joint venture, operating, capital, global integration and other projects, changes in currency exchange rates, changes in economic and competitive conditions, technological developments, and other risks and uncertainties, including those detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The statements contained in this news release shall not be deemed to constitute an admission as to any liability in connection with any claim or lawsuit.

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