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HISTORY OF BUCKEYE INTERNATIONAL, INC.

Buckeye International, Inc. was founded as the J.P. Davies Companies in 1844 in Dayton, Ohio. Originally, the company produced lubricants and lamp oil. After 50 years in this market, the company moved into soap manufacturing. In 1892, it became the first company to market chip laundry soap in a box, which it introduced to the household market in 1905. The Buckeye brand name has been used since the late 1800's.

In 1914, the company was incorporated as The Davies-Young Soap Company in Ohio and registered the Buckeye brand in 1922.

In 1964, the Davies-Young Soap Company was acquired by Cowles Chemical Company. Cowles sold it to Stauffer Chemical in 1966, which in turn sold it to Chemtech in 1968.

Chemtech moved the company's headquarters from Dayton to St. Louis, Missouri in 1971. Three years later, Chemtech sold the unit to a group of investors led by Gilbert G. Kosup, who was head of the unit then and was the chairman of the board and chief executive officer of the company until his death in August of 2000. Kristopher Kosup has assumed the duties of president, chief executive officer and chairman of the board. In 1990, the company changed its name from the Davies-Young Company to Buckeye International, Inc.

During the last three decades the company has followed a strategy of emphasizing branded products. In 1972, 85% of its production was sold for private labeling. Today, all of its products bear the Buckeye brand name, permitting the company to reach throughout North America and the world with the advertising and build a strong identity for the entire Buckeye product line.

ISSUED: March 1, 2000 by Buckeye International Inc.