Start of Operations of TOPAS Advanced Polymers

New Owners Daicel and Polyplastics take over from Celanese/Ticona 01 Jan 2006

Tokyo, Frankfurt, Florence, KY, 30 January 2006 – Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd. (Daicel Chemical), Polyplastics Co., Ltd. (Polyplastics) and TOPAS Advanced Polymers (TAP) jointly announced the consummation of acquisition of the cyclic olefin copolymer (COC, trademark: TOPAS®) business of Ticona, a wholly owned subsidiary of Celanese Corporation. Daicel Chemical and Polyplastics hold 55 percent and 45 percent interests in TAP, respectively, which was officially launched January 1, 2006.

TAP has been established in Frankfurt, Germany, and Florence, Kentucky, USA, as a member of Daicel/Polyplastics Group. It will take over Ticona’s entire COC business, including employees, production and R&D facilities.

TOPAS COC has a strong reputation for having optical properties equivalent to PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate, an acrylic resin), thermal resistance superior to PC (polycarbonate), and dimensional stability greater than PMMA and PC. Additional properties are stiffness, very good compatibility with polyolefins and high water vapor barrier. It is a promising material for optical components, medical devices, packaging and applications in other industries.

Daicel Chemical’s extensive experience in the field of polymers merged with the know-how Polyplastics has acquired in engineering plastics marketing and application development will strengthen the development of new customized products. The Daicel Chemical Group will leverage its collective resources and skills to develop the COC business globally, aiming for sales of 10 billion yen in 2010.

Summary of Global Business Development

1) Japan and Asia-Pacific Region
Polyplastics has been selling and marketing TOPAS COC products imported from Ticona and has engaged in application development since April 2004. Establishment of TAP strengthens these sales and development activities, enabling a more customer-focused business.

2) Europe
TAP GmbH has acquired Ticona’s assets in Germany, which include the production plant with an annual capacity of 30,000 metric tons, a research and development facility, and inventory. The plant, located in Oberhausen in northwestern Germany, is the largest in the world for the production of COCs.

3) North America
TOPAS Advanced Polymers, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of TAP GmbH, has acquired Ticona’s assets in the United States.

Daicel Chemical has created the TOPAS Business Group to provide TAP GmbH with the full support of the Daicel Chemical Group, headed by Taizo Tosa, a representative director and senior managing executive officer of Daicel Chemical, and Yasumasa Komura, the representative director and president of Polyplastics.

TOPAS Advanced Polymers GmbH
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Shareholdings: Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd. 55%, Polyplastics Co., Ltd. 45%
Managing Directors: Gregor Bommel and Hitoshi Hayashi
Business: Research and development, production and sale of COC
Website: www.topas.com

TOPAS Advanced Polymers, Inc.
Location: Florence, Kentucky, USA
Shareholdings: TOPAS Advanced Polymers GmbH 100%
Business: Market development and sale of COC
Website: www.topas-us.com

Contacts:

Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd.
Investor Relations and Public Relations Group
JR Shinagawa East Bldg.
18-1, Konan 2-Chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8230
Telephone: +81-3-6711-8121
Facsimile: +81-3-6711-8100

Polyplastics Co., Ltd.
PR unit, Administration Department
JR Shinagawa East Bldg.
18-1, Konan 2-Chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8280
Telephone: +81-3-6711-8600
Facsimile: +81-3-6711-8606

TOPAS Advanced Polymers GmbH
Industriepark Höchst
Gebäude F821
65926 Frankfurt am Main
Germany
Telephone: +49 (0) 1805-1-86727
eMail: info@topas.com

TOPAS Advanced Polymers, Inc.
8040 Dixie Highway
Florence, KY 41042
USA
Telephone: +1 859-746-6447
eMail: info@topas-us.com

US, Canada, Mexico:
Phone:  +1 (859) 746-6447 x4400
eMail:    info@topas.com

Europe & South America:
Phone: +49 (0) 1805-1-TOPAS*
Phone: +49 (0) 1805-1-86727*
eMail:    info@topas.com
0,14€/minute (net provider: T-Com)

Asia: Polyplastics Co., Ltd.
Phone:  +81-3 6711 8615
eMail: topas.info@polyplastics.com