DuPont Acquires China-Based Solid Surface Company

March 05, 2004  —  DuPont today announced the acquisition of the assets of Guangzhou Montelli Material Technology Corporation, a solid surfacing business located in the People's Republic of China (PRC). Terms were not disclosed.

As part of the company's strategy to increase its presence in growing markets, DuPont Surfaces, the manufacturer of DuPont™ Corian®, the original solid surface material, will acquire Guangzhou Montelli's existing manufacturing assets in the cities of Guangzhou and Xishui, including 400 employees. The transaction also includes the various solid surface brands marketed by Guangzhou Montelli and its extensive marketing and sales distribution network throughout China.

"Montelli®, the leading solid surface brand in the PRC, is well-respected for quality products and a strong route to market," said Richard Olson, vice president and general manager – DuPont Surfaces. "China's growth in the construction industry has been very rapid. Through this acquisition, DuPont will now have both a broader product offering and a stronger sales organization to better satisfy customer needs. We are delighted to have purchased such well-positioned capabilities, which will enable our continued growth in this strategic market."

"Our plan is to utilize the acquired assets to continue to supply solid surfacing products at a variety of price points for the PRC market. The products, branded under Montelli®, will be a good complement to DuPont™ Corian® in the PRC," said K. Nigel Budden, director of DuPont Surfaces. "This acquisition also will enable the two solid surfaces brands to leverage their routes to market and other market infrastructure, thus increasing coverage while capitalizing on operating synergies. The purchased facilities will continue to provide employment opportunities for local talent and utilize local supplies of raw materials and equipment where possible."

"The acquisition is beneficial for the PRC solid surface customers since the joining of both DuPont Surfaces and Guangzhou Montelli will offer a wider range of relevant products to the marketplace," said Guangzhou Montelli Chief Executive Officer Dr. Fred Gong. "Leveraging the DuPont Surfaces research and development capabilities will help fuel the introduction of new technologies and surfacing solutions to evolve the Montelli® brand in the PRC and satisfy unique market demands."

Corian®, the original solid surface product from DuPont, will continue to be manufactured at the Yerkes facilities in Buffalo, N.Y.; at a joint venture manufacturing site in Toyama, Japan; and at the Ulsan facilities in Korea.

DuPont Surfaces is a strategic business unit of DuPont that manufactures and markets Corian® solid surfaces and Zodiaq® quartz surfaces. DuPont™ Corian® is a well-known global brand in the solid surface category. More information is available at www.corian.com. DuPont™ Zodiaq® is a premium surfacing material made almost entirely of pure quartz crystals. More information is available at www.zodiaq.com.

DuPont is a science company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by solving problems and creating solutions that make people's lives better, safer and easier. Operating in more than 70 countries, the company offers a wide range of products and services to markets including agriculture, nutrition, electronics, communications, safety and protection, home and construction, transportation and apparel.

Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements based on management's current expectations, estimates and projections. All statements that address expectations or projections about the future, including statements about the company's strategy for growth, product development, market position, expected expenditures and financial results are forward-looking statements. Some of the forward-looking statements may be identified by words like "expects," "anticipates," "plans," "intends," "projects," "indicates," and similar expressions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors, including those discussed more fully elsewhere in this release and in DuPont's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, particularly its latest annual report on Form 10-K, as well as others, could cause results to differ materially from those stated. These factors include, but are not limited to changes in the laws, regulations, policies and economic conditions of countries in which the company does business; competitive pressures; successful integration of structural changes, including acquisitions, divestitures and alliances; research and development of new products, including regulatory approval and market acceptance, and seasonality of sales of agricultural products.

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03/05/04

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