Eastman licenses proprietary polyethylene technology in Asia

KINGSPORT, Tenn., November 13, 2001 -- Eastman Chemical Company (NYSE:EMN) today announced that it has concluded an agreement to license its proprietary Energx polyethylene technology to a leading petrochemical company headquartered in Asia. Terms were not disclosed.

"Our licensee's choice of Energx technology expands its use beyond the gas-phase process we commercially practice," said Thomas A. Smith, vice president and general manager of Eastman's Container Plastics business, "and confirms the value of this technology to users of all gas-phase linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) technologies."

The agreement encompasses the second-generation Energx DCX process technology for direct injection supported catalyst systems. The supported catalyst, Sylopol DCX, is supplied by W. R. Grace & Co.- Conn.'s Davison Catalysts' business unit. Eastman has previously licensed its first-generation Energx polyethylene technology to Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC. This technology can be used in most gas-phase polyethylene manufacturing facilities to produce high-performance linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Eastman Hifor, Eastman Hifor Clear and Eastman Hifor Xtreme polymers are produced using Energx technology.

Smith noted, "Our customers tell us that our products made using Energx polyethylene technology compete very favorably with the performance of other products such as metallocene- and octene-based polymers."

Headquartered in Kingsport, Eastman manufactures and markets plastics, chemicals and fibers. The company employs approximately 16,500 people in more than 30 countries and had 2000 sales of $5.3 billion. For more information about Eastman and its products, visit http://www.eastman.com.

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Energx and Energx DCX are service marks of Eastman Chemical Company. Eastman Hifor, Eastman Hifor Clear and Eastman Hifor Xtreme are trademarks of Eastman Chemical Company.
Sylopol DCX is a registered service mark of W. R. Grace & Co.

Licensing contact: Jim Caldwell, Eastman Chemical Company, 423-229-6326.
For more information, visit: http://www.eastman.com/egtv