Arch Chemicals Granted a Patent by European Patent Office for Zinc Omadine(TM) ZOE Fungicide-Algaecide

The new patent is the third granted by the European Patent Officefor proprietary Arch pyrithione compounds in formulations containingzinc salts, which also help prevent discoloration inpyrithione-containing paints. All three of these European patents arein force in Germany, Denmark, France, Great Britain and Italy.

"As this latest patent makes clear, we at Arch Chemicals continueto develop new, value-added zinc Omadine(R) formulations that providenumerous benefits to paint and coatings makers and their customers,"said Ken Christy, Vice President of Arch's industrial biocidesbusiness. "Arch is one of the leading, global providers of biocides tocontrol the growth of mold, mildew and bacteria in paints and otherbuilding products. This market leadership is a result of our strongpatent position, regulatory and toxicological expertise, and abilityto tailor our biocides to satisfy our customers' needs."

In addition to key European nations, Arch Chemicals has zincOmadine(TM) ZOE patents granted in America, Argentina, Brazil, Canada,China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singaporeand Taiwan. Patents are also pending for this advanced coatingstechnology in Thailand and Japan. Arch has also obtained the requiredregulatory approvals for our product's use in paints in all of thesecountries.

Zinc Omadine(TM) ZOE dispersion is one of an extensive productline of highly active, broad-spectrum antimicrobials offered by Arch.Increasingly, Arch's biocides are being incorporated as antimicrobialsinto interior and exterior paints, wallboard, ceiling tiles, flooringmaterials and carpeting. In this role, they serve as a vital weaponagainst the Sick Building Syndrome, which refers to the growingproblem of students, teachers, homeowners and office workers becomingsick from mold, mildew and bacteria that form on interior surfaces.

Arch's product line for architectural paints and coatings andother building products includes zinc Omadine(TM) Fungicide-Algaecide,sodium Omadine(TM) Fungicide-Algaecide, Omacide(TM) IPBC, Proxel(TM),Densil(TM), Vantocil(TM), Triadine(TM) and Reputain(TM) products. Formore information about these products, as well as the use of Arch'sbiocides in marine paints, visit the website at www.archbiocides.com.

Headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut (USA), Arch Chemicals, Inc.is a global Biocides company with annual sales of approximately $1.3billion. Arch and its subsidiaries provide innovative, chemistry-basedsolutions to control the growth of harmful microbes. The Company'sconcentration is in water, hair and skin care products,pressure-treated wood, paints and coatings, building products andhealth and hygiene applications. Arch Chemicals operates in twosegments: Treatment Products and Performance Products. Together withits subsidiaries, Arch has approximately 3,000 employees andmanufacturing and customer-support facilities in North and SouthAmerica, Europe, Asia and Africa.