PARSIPPANY, N.J., USA - February 04, 2008 -- Sun Chemical and its parent company, Dainippon Ink & Chemicals (DIC) have formed a joint venture with Nantong DIC Metallic Pigments Co., Ltd., a leading aluminum pigment manufacturer in China.

The joint venture expands on a distribution agreement announced in October 2007 that allows Sun Chemical and DIC to market the Nantong Shanjing products for coating, plastic and graphic arts industries worldwide under the new SunMetallics brand. These products will be launched globally in the first quarter of this year.

"This joint venture is yet another step in Performance Pigments becoming the leader in appearance and effects," said Brian Leen, General Manager and Corporate Vice President, Performance Pigments Group, Sun Chemical. "Our objective is to be able to offer our customers the widest range of effect materials and deliver them at the highest level of reliability in our industry"

Nantong Shanjing specializes in the production and sales of aluminum pigments and pastes. The manufacturing plant based in Nantong of Jiangsu Province produces aluminum pigments and pastes used in a variety of industrial and commercial products in the automotive, industrial and cosmetic industries among others. Nantong Shanjing also has an office in Shanghai.

Business Development Asia LLC advised Sun Chemical with this transaction.