Equistar Chemicals and Procter & Gamble Sign Licensing and Collaboration Agreement for New Catalyst Technology for Elastomers

HOUSTON, Sept. 17, 2002 - Equistar Chemicals, LP, today announced it has signed a licensing and collaboration agreement with The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) to develop and commercialize a new metallocene catalyst technology that creates an elastomeric resin using propylene as a feedstock. Elastomers provide elasticity to products such as athletic clothing, consumer packaging and impact-resistant automotive and industrial components.

Under the terms of the agreement, Equistar will receive a license to P&G's proprietary metallocene catalyst technology and will collaborate with P&G to bring the new elastomeric products to commercialization.

The new technology will create the first family of homopolymer polypropylene resins with elastomeric properties. The technology is targeted for use in applications such as packaging, health and hygiene, non-woven fibers, automobile interiors, construction, housewares and wire and cable markets.

"Nothing like it exists in the marketplace," explained Rick Fontenot, vice president of research and development for Equistar. "The development of this revolutionary new product is in response to the market needs for softer polymers, particularly in applications requiring soft touch and resiliency. While this new technology is in the early phases of development, the initial product performance results have been impressive."

P&G has been working in the laboratory on this catalyst technology for approximately three years. By collaborating with Equistar, P&G plans to move the technology from the laboratory through scale-up and commercialization.

"We selected Equistar because they have one of the most extensive applications laboratories in the country, as well as extensive catalyst development capabilities and world-class plant operations," said Fernando Benvegnu, vice president - corporate R&D, The Procter & Gamble Company. "We are confident that by working with Equistar we will be able to bring this new technology to market in the next two or three years."

According to Ed Dineen, Equistar's senior vice president of chemicals and polymers, "Our goal is to work with P&G and our customers to develop a new generation of products based on this unique technology. By working with a world leader in consumer products, and through the leverage of existing commercial relationships, we believe we have assembled a team that will open the window on an entirely new family of resins."

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About P&G
P&G markets nearly 300 brands to five billion consumers in 160 countries. P&G makes a significant annual investment in developing and improving its products -- leading the way in R&D globally among consumer products companies. P&G's External Business Development and Global Licensing organization is charged with ensuring the company maximizes the value of its 'treasure trove' of technologies by selling, licensing and, in some cases, donating these technologies. The unit is also responsible for licensing select P&G brand trademarks. For more information on licensing P&G technology, go to www.pgtechnologytransfer.com.

About Equistar
Equistar Chemicals, LP, headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a joint venture between Lyondell Chemical Company and Millennium Chemicals Inc. and combines their olefins, polymers and oxygenated chemicals businesses. Equistar is one of the world's largest producers of ethylene, propylene and polyethylene and a leading producer of ethylene oxide, ethylene glycol, polypropylene, specialty polymers, wire and cable resins, and polyolefin powders. Equistar was formed in December 1997 and has 16 manufacturing sites located primarily along the U.S. Gulf Coast and in the Midwest.

The statements in this release relating to matters that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially, based on factors including, but not limited to, future global economic conditions, further increases in raw material and/or energy costs, access to capital markets, industry production capacity and operating rates, the supply/demand balance for Equistar's products, competitive products and pricing pressures, technological developments, changes in governmental regulations and other risk factors. For more detailed information about the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, please refer to Equistar's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in March 2002, and Equistar's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2002, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in August 2002.