IMERYS Performance Minerals & Pigments Asia Pacific to Increase Ground Calcium Carbonate Prices

IMERYS Performance Minerals & Pigments Asia Pacific will raise
prices on all ground calcium carbonate (GCC) products by an average of
15% with effect from December 1, 2007, as contracts allow. The
increase will apply to marble chips and all associated processed
products, including GCC powders and slurry, throughout the Asia
Pacific region.

Significant cost pressures in mining, local logistics, chemicals
and ocean freight are key drivers for the announced price increase.
Despite Imerys´ continued efforts to offset these increasing costs,
this price increase is necessary to achieve a sustainable pigment and
marble raw material business and meet the demands of our customers.

Notes to editors:

IMERYS Performance Minerals & Pigments is a business group created
by the merger of Performance Minerals and Pigments for Paper
activities.

The Performance Minerals activity provides customers with
tailor-made solutions in a highly technical field, based on the
processing of kaolins, carbonates, feldspar, mica and ball clays. The
development of partnerships with customers is essential within the
value-added markets of performance minerals comprising plastics,
rubber, coatings, adhesives, caulks and sealants, health, beauty &
nutrition.

As a world leading producer of white pigments, manufacturing
kaolin, ground calcium carbonate (GCC) and precipitated calcium
carbonate (PCC), the business group also serves the needs of the
international paper industry. We offer tailor made solutions to our
customers, combining a strong technical understanding of our products
and their applications, to compliment the natural value of the
minerals we supply. We have a world class team striving for superior
products and technical excellence.

IMERYS Performance Minerals & Pigments employs 4,733 people,
operates 80 industrial sites in 22 countries and represents 35% of
Imerys´ overall revenue.