NALCO CHEMICAL COMPANY ANNOUNCES THREE NEW ACQUISITIONS

NAPERVILLE, Ill., March 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Nalco Chemical Company (NYSE: NLC) announced it has acquired the businesses of two companies in Scandinavia and the company in Italy, a move which will increase its presence in the important pulp and paper markets of Europe. These transactions will add approximately $15 million to Nalco's sales. Terms were not disclosed.

In Tesjoki, Finland, Nalco acquired the business of Voimax Trading Oy and HaSne Oy, a leading supplier and marketer of process chemicals used by that country's pulp manufacturers. In Karlstad, Sweden, Nalco acquired the business of Scanmax Kemi AB, a leading supplier and marketer of chemicals to pulp manufacturers in that country. In Milan, Italy, Nalco acquired the business of Papirkemie Italiana SpA, a leading supplier of paper biocides used by paper manufacturers throughout Italy.

Commenting on these latest transactions, Nalco Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ted Mooney said, "These fine companies expand our product and technology offerings to pulp and paper manufacturing customers throughout Finland, Sweden and Italy. We are proud of our leadership in this important market and Voimax, Scanmax and Papirkemie will help us strengthen that position."

Nalco Chemical Company is the largest manufacturer and marketer of water treatment and process chemicals and services in the world. Nalco and its affiliated company, Nalco Exxon Energy Chemicals, L.P., have combined annualized sales of more than $2 billion and serve customers in steelmaking, pulp and papermaking, mining and mineral processing, automotive, metalworking, oil refining and petroleum, power generation, food and beverage, light industrial, hospitals and office buildings in more than 120 countries.

For more news about Nalco, visit our website at: www.nalco.com SOURCE Nalco Chemical Company

-0-                             03/10/99 /CONTACT:  Graham Jackson, 
630-305-1365 or Paul Cholette, 630-305-1147, both of Nalco Chemical 
Company/ 

/Web site: http://www.nalco.com/ (NLC)
CO: Nalco Chemical Company; Voimax Trading Oy; HaSne Oy; Scanmax
Kemi AB;

Papirkemie Italiana SpA ST: Illinois, Finland, Sweden, Italy IN: CHM SU: TNM