PRESS RELEASE

Christopher Morrissey
Sun Chemical
Phone: 708-236-3533
chris.morrissey@na.sunchem.com

Sun Chemical To Acquire Half Interest in French Special Effect Pigments and Inks Supplier AIC

Fort Lee, NJ - October 31, 2002 -- Sun Chemical Corporation, the world's leading manufacturer of printing inks and organic pigments, has acquired a 50% interest in Assemblage Intermoleculaire en Chimie Organique (AIC), a special effect pigments, additives and inks company based in Libourne, France.

AIC manufactures high performance additives that function as pigments in the security and specialty inks markets. Dr. David Hill, Sun Chemical's Chief Technology Officer, said, "AIC has a strong technology position and is poised to become the leading player in thermo-chromic and photo-chromic coatings systems. We expect our association with this emerging company to provide Sun Chemical with new and innovative technologies and products that will represent a key strategic opportunity for us."

Mr. Martin Cellérier, Director of Strategic Planning, Sun Chemical Europe Group, will lead the business for Sun Chemical. According to Mr. Cellérier, "We expect that AIC will help Sun Chemical to develop value added solutions for our customers in the area of brand and product protection, secure documents, currency and related segments of the market."

AIC was established to continue the commercialization of the AIMCO technology originally developed by Mr. Philippe Guillot, a respected and highly decorated French scientist working in the field of specialty materials. Mr. Guillot and his team will continue to support AIC, particularly in research and application development.

Ms. Mireille Devos, who has worked with Mr. Guillot since 1998, is the General Manager of AIC, and leads the company's business development activities. According to Ms. Devos, "The AIC tream is very excited to have the support of Sun Chemical, and we look forward to achieving the benefits of this new partnership."