CLEVELAND, October 14, 2002 - The Glidden Company, which does business in North America as ICI Paints, today announced that it has been dismissed from a lead paint lawsuit filed by the El Paso (Texas) School District because plaintiffs' counsel agreed the company never manufactured or sold lead products for use in paint.

The El Paso School District filed the lawsuit on August 12, 2002, naming Glidden and a number of present and former lead pigment manufacturers. The complaint alleged that lead paint was a known hazard and that the defendants did nothing to prevent its use or warn the public of potential harm to children.

Glidden was quickly dismissed after opposing counsel found that the company never manufactured or sold lead products for use in paint and was therefore not responsible for lead-related health issues. The case remains pending against the other defendants.

This recent dismissal in El Paso followed the conclusion of the first phase of the landmark lead paint case in Rhode Island, where a jury failed to determine that old lead paint is a public nuisance. Glidden was dismissed from the Rhode Island case in February 2002 and therefore was not involved in the trial.

In the past year, Glidden has now been dismissed from 14 lead paint cases in California, Illinois, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, Ohio, Rhode Island and Texas.

ICI Paints is part of the ICI Group (NYSE: ICI), one of the world's largest producers of specialty products and paints. ICI Paints worldwide has 49 manufacturing sites in 25 countries and more than 15,000 employees. Headquartered in Cleveland, ICI Paints' North American operations produce decorative coatings brands such as Glidden, Dulux, Ralph Lauren, Devoe, Fuller-O'Brien, Sinclair, C-I-L paint and Liquid Nails caulks and adhesives. Products are sold through more than 660 Company stores, national/retail outlets and independent dealers in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. For more information, visit www.icipaints.com or www.glidden.com