CLEVELAND, November 18, 2002 - The Glidden Company, which does business in North America as ICI Paints, has been dismissed from three lead paint lawsuits in Mississippi and Texas, continuing a trend which has resulted in the company's dismissal from 16 lead paint lawsuits in the past nine months.

Glidden was dismissed from two lead paint lawsuits in Mississippi last Friday, one filed by the Jefferson County School District in November 2000 and the other filed by the Quitman County School District in December 2001. Late last month, Glidden was also dismissed from a lead paint lawsuit filed by the El Paso (Texas) School District on August 12, 2002.

The complaints 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. Plaintiffs' counsel dismissed Glidden after it found that the company never manufactured or sold lead products for use in paint.

"It is satisfying to see respected plaintiffs' lawyers throughout the country acknowledging that Glidden has no role in lead paint lawsuits and taking the appropriate step of dismissing Glidden from pending litigation," said John Haggerty, Vice President and General Counsel for ICI Paints.

These dismissals follow 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 nine months, Glidden has now been dismissed from 16 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.