Layne Christensen Announces Technology Licensing Agreement with Rohm and Haas.

Business Editors

MISSION WOODS, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 1, 2004

Layne Christensen Company (NASDAQ:LAYN) announced today its Water Treatment Division has entered into a technology licensing agreement with Rohm and Haas Company (NYSE:ROH), a world leader in the manufacture, application and use of ion exchange resins.

The licensing agreement grants Layne certain exclusive U.S. marketing and manufacturing rights to Rohm and Haas' revolutionary and innovative Advanced Amberpack(TM) Municipal Technology. This process utilizes a patented fractal distribution system in a packed bed countercurrent ion exchange system that results in a near perfect plug flow regime and exceptional separation of waste fractions during the regeneration cycle. Over the past year, Layne's Water Treatment Division has focused on developing and securing, differentiated, value added, technology driven solutions for applications requiring the use of ion exchange resins that can be regenerated with a process specifically aimed at minimizing the amount of waste brine produced. Commenting on the agreement Greg Aluce, President of Layne's Water Resources Division, remarked, "The impetus gained by the addition of Advanced Amberpack(TM) to Layne's suite of treatment technologies is enormous given the increasing environmental and regulatory emphasis on minimizing waste and attendant residuals management issues." Compared to conventional ion exchange systems where the amount of waste brine generated can range from 4-6% of the volume of water treated, the Advanced Amberpack(TM) Municipal Low Waste Brine IX System produces waste volumes of between 0.3-0.5% of the volume of water treated. A significant reduction of waste brine treatment and disposal costs as well as measurably reducing the impact to the environment.

Ram Narayanan, Vice President of the Water Treatment Division, said, "This agreement combines the recognized industry leading expertise of Rohm and Haas in ion exchange with Layne's competencies in marketing and implementing turnkey water treatment solutions. It is a unique opportunity to leverage the strengths of both companies with the goal of providing state of the art ion exchange technology for a wide variety of potable water applications requiring the removal of nitrates, radium, hardness and arsenic with a major emphasis on reducing the volume of waste requiring treatment and disposal. We view this strategic alliance as a collaborative thrust to capitalize on the enormous opportunities in the drinking water sector where there is an increasing requirement to meet stringent compliance standards while minimizing the impact of waste residuals generated from the process."

Layne Christensen Company's Water Resources Division provides single source, full service capabilities encompassing expertise in geosciences, well drilling, pumping, water transmission infrastructure and groundwater treatment. The company offers advanced treatment technologies for the removal of arsenic, iron and manganese, radionuclides, perchlorate, nitrate and volatile organic contaminants. With 28 strategically located offices throughout the U.S., Layne's Water Resources Division is uniquely positioned to offer comprehensive, integrated solutions and services for the extraction and purification of groundwater for municipalities, investor owned utilities, industrial and agriculture sectors.

Rohm and Haas, headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, is a global specialty materials company with multiple strategically positioned manufacturing operations, R&D centers and technical locations both in the U.S. and abroad. With annual revenues of approximately $6 billion Rohm and Haas technology spans a broad range of end use markets from food and pharmaceutical to water treatment, microelectronics and industrial coatings. Rohm and Haas is a leader in the manufacture, use and application of a wide variety of ion exchange resins specifically formulated and used in water treatment to remove a wide range of regulated contaminants.

Amberpack is a registered Trademark of the Rohm and Haas Company.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements are based on current expectations and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including but not limited to prevailing prices for various metals and unanticipated slowdowns in the Company's major markets. Should one or more of these underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those currently estimated. These statements are made as of the date of this release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update such forward-looking statement or to update the reasons why actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements.

Layne Christensen Company provides sophisticated services and related products for the water, mineral, construction and energy markets.