Rockwood Press Release

Southern Clay Products Announces Increase
for Claytone^® and Tixogel^® Additives

Gonzales, TX USA (June 26, 2007) – Effective August 1, 2007, Southern Clay Products, Inc. (SCP) will increase the price of all Claytone^® and Tixogel^® organoclay additives up to 7%. This action is being taken to help offset the historically unprecedented increase in raw materials, specifically bleached fancy tallow (BFT), a key intermediate in the production of organoclays. The increase impacts all geographic regions and market segments.

“Prices for BFT have doubled during the past year, due in no small part to the emerging alternative energy market, including bio-diesel and ethanol,” explained Vern Sumner, president of SCP.  “This has resulted in increased prices for many traditional fats and oils, as they can be used for fuel or as alternatives for grain in feedstuffs.”  He added, “SCP remains committed to the market but is unable to continue absorbing these significant increases.”

SCP is a subsidiary of Rockwood Holdings, Inc. and a leading supplier of functional additives to several markets.  In addition to Claytone and Tixogel organoclays, the company's complete line of water- and solvent-based products includes Advitrol^®, Bentolite^®, Encore^®, Fulacolor^®, Fulcat^®, Garamite^®, Gelwhite^®, Mineral Colloid^®, Nanothix^®, Optibent^®, Optiflo^®, Optigel^®, Laponite^®, Permont^®, Pure Thix^® and Rheocin^® rheological additives and Y-Type^® anti-settling agents. For more information on the full range of products, please visit www.scprod.com.

Rockwood Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ROC) is a leading global specialty chemicals and advanced materials company. Rockwood has a worldwide employee base of approximately 9,500 people and annual net sales of approximately $3.0 billion (2006). The company focuses on global niche segments of the specialty chemicals, pigments and additives and advanced materials markets. For more information on Rockwood, please visit www.rocksp.com.