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

CLEVELAND - April 2, 2003 - Cleveland-based 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 community 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 Cleveland on Wednesday to support Base Cleveland and the American Red Cross. With support from the Red Cross, Base Cleveland was established by Cleveland Mayor Jane Campbell to address the needs of military families in this time of crisis. ICI Paints also is making donations to similar organizations in other U.S. cities that host a ProShow.

"This donation is most welcome in this time of great sacrifice by our troops and their families," said Mayor Campbell. "Many military 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 Cleveland-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 Cleveland this year. The total donation is approximately 1,000 gallons of paint, which will supply 15 houses being built locally in 2003.

"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 Cleveland families get a new start in life is really wonderful," said Jeffrey Bowen, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland. "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 the Mayor's office, Base Cleveland, the American Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland will be made during a short ceremony at 3 p.m. at Windows on the River in the Flats. All will be available for comment immediately following the ceremony.

ICI Paints' ProShows are local sales and marketing events where hundreds of professional paint contractors and builders gather in a trade-show environment. While having lunch, trade show participants will see paint demonstrations, take advantage of special pricing and interact with ICI Paints' product experts.

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 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.