Company also announces local paint donation to Habitat for Humanity to supply every Charlotte-area house project this year

Charlotte, NC, March 25, 2003 - ICI Paints, an international leader in the manufacture and distribution of world-class paint brands, today announced two major philanthropic initiatives designed to support the communities where its employees live and work.

To support the families of our troops while they serve our country in the Middle East, ICI Paints will donate a minimum of $5,000 based on sales from its one-day "ProShow" professional paint contractor event in Charlotte on Tuesday to support the American Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Services (AFES). AFES's mission is to provide emergency family communications and services, such as referrals to military aid societies for financial assistance and counseling, information and referrals for problem solving and social services.

"This donation is most welcome in this time of great sacrifice by our troops and their families," said Ms. Billie Wiley, Director of AFES. "Many of our families are strained emotionally and stretched financially due to the absence of a key member of their household right now. This money will help us help them bridge the gap until their loved ones come home. I encourage other Charlotte-area companies to step in the way ICI Paints has and extend a helping hand to these families."

In addition, ICI Paints announced that it will donate all the paint necessary to cover every new Habitat for Humanity house project in Charlotte and several surrounding communities this year. The total donation is more than 2,100 gallons and will supply more than 70 houses being built locally this year.

"The paint donation could not have come at a better time. In this challenging economy, more people are in need than ever before and to have ICI Paints step in now to help Charlotte families get a new start in life is really wonderful," said Bert Green, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Charlotte. "We look forward to working with ICI Paints to push toward accomplishing our mission of eliminating poverty housing."

Brief presentations from ICI Paints executives to representatives from AFES and Habitat for Humanity of Charlotte will be made during a short ceremony at noon at the ICI Paints store, located at 1421 East Third Street in Charlotte. All will be available for comment immediately following the ceremony.

ICI Paints' ProShows are local sales and marketing events where dozens of professional paint contractors and builders gather in a trade-show environment. While having lunch and playing casino games in the store, they will see paint demonstrations, take advantage of special pricing and interact with ICI Paints' product experts. This year, ICI Paints is also proud to have NASCAR driver Tony Stewart's No. 20 Chevrolet show car as an exhibit and the Carolina Panthers cheerleading squad providing entertainment at the Charlotte ProShow.

Cleveland-based ICI Paints is part of the ICI Group (NYSE: ICI), one of the world's largest producers of specialty products and paints. ICI Paints has 49 manufacturing sites in 25 countries and more than 15,000 employees worldwide. In North America, ICI Paints produces decorative coatings brands such as Glidden, Dulux, Ralph Lauren, Devoe, Fuller-O'Brien, Sinclair, Color Your World, C-I-L paint and Liquid Nails caulks and adhesives. ICI Paints in North America is a proud national sponsor of Habitat for Humanity, with plans to provide more than 20,000 gallons of free paint to support Habitat house build projects across the country this year. Products are sold through more company stores, national/retail outlets and independent dealers in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. For more information, visit http://www.icipaintsstores.com or call toll free 800-984-5444.