JinHaas Officially Begins Operation - Contributes to Chinese Plastics Additives Market

SHANGHAI, China, Aug. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Rohm and Haas Company and Weihai Jinhong Polymer Co. Ltd announced today that they have begun formal operation of a joint venture company, Jinhong Rohm and Haas Chemical Company (JinHaas), following the announcement of the agreement in December 2006. JinHaas will produce methacrylate butadiene styrene (MBS), acrylic impact modifiers (AIMs), and acrylic processing aids for distribution in China, as well as in other emerging markets.

The grand opening ceremony of JinHaas was successfully held in Weihai today, with more than 250 government officials, important customers and business representatives present. They included Wang Peiting, Deputy General Secretary of Weihai City CCP and Mayor of Weihai City People's Government, Mark Douglas, VP of Rohm and Haas, Asia-Pacific Regional director and China CEO, and Patrice Barthelmes, VP of Rohm and Haas and Global Business Director for the company's US$1.8 billion Packaging and Building Materials business.

With this joint venture, Rohm and Haas will become the first multinational company with a significant footprint of plastics additive manufacturing in China. The local manufacturing facility is a great addition to the current Asia-Pacific manufacturing and supply network of Rohm and Haas overall.

Headquartered in Weihai, Shandong Province, Rohm and Haas holds 51 percent of the JinHaas company shares. The new company was created to deliver a complete range of high-performance plastics additives to the building and construction and the PVC packaging segments of the Chinese market.

"We are proud to be a part of this joint venture," said Mr. Barthelmes, "and we are confident JinHaas will prove to be yet another successful example of our cooperation with a high-quality Chinese company. We believe that the significant manufacturing capacity, product offerings, and regional marketing and sales expertise brought to the venture by Jinhong Company will enable Rohm and Haas to bolster its leadership position in China's plastics additives market. Together, through JinHaas, our companies will develop and provide the right products to meet the growing needs and demands of Chinese customers."

"The establishment of this joint venture will promote the domestic plastics additives market development of Shangdong province and even the whole of China," Mr. Xu Dongguo, President of Weihai Jinhong Polymer Co. Ltd, added, "Strong brand reputation, a well-ordered distribution network, extensive product and process technology, and the significant environmental, health and safety (EHS) experience of Rohm and Haas Company is expected to provide the most reliable guarantee to the healthy operation of JinHaas."

About JinHaas

Jinhong Rohm and Haas Chemicals Company Ltd (JinHaas) is a joint venture formed in March, 2007, with more than 120 employees, by Rohm and Haas, the world's leading supplier of specialty materials and Weihai Jinhong Polymers Ltd., the Chinese leading building and construction specialty materials manufacturer.

Designed to deliver a complete range of high-quality plastics additive products and superior technical support to the building & construction, as well as the PVC packaging materials markets in China, JinHaas produces methyl methacrylate butadiene styrene (MBS) impact modifiers, acrylic impact modifiers (AIM) and acrylic processing aids to supply China and other emerging markets.

About Rohm and Haas Company

Leading the way since 1909, Rohm and Haas is a global pioneer in the creation and development of innovative technologies and solutions for the specialty materials industry. The company's technologies are found in a wide range of industries including: Building and Construction, Electronics and Electronic Devices, Household Goods and Personal Care, Packaging and Paper, Transportation, Pharmaceutical and Medical, Water, Food and Food Related, and Industrial Process. Innovative Rohm and Haas technologies and solutions help to improve life every day, around the world. Based in Philadelphia, PA, the company generated annual sales of approximately $8.2 billion in 2006. Visit http://www.rohmhaas.com/ for more information. imagine the possibilities(TM)

Contact: Annie Chen China Communication Manager Rohm and Haas Tel. (86-21) 3862 8687 Email.AnnieChen@rohmhaas.com Laura Hadden Director of Communications Specialty Materials Rohm and Haas Company Tel: 1.215.592.3054 e-mail: LHadden@rohmhaas.com