ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill., Feb. 8 /PRNewswire/ --AMCOL International Corporation (NYSE: ACO) announced today that its Board of Directors has completed its review of strategic alternatives to enhance shareholder value. As part of the review, AMCOL retained Lehman Brothers, Inc. to advise the Board concerning strategic alternatives, including a merger or sale of the company. Based on the results of this review, the Board of Directors has determined that the most appropriate strategy currently available is for the company to remain independent and to focus on operating strategies for its remaining businesses.

AMCOL continues to evaluate the spin-off of its Nanocor subsidiary, various alternatives for funding Nanocor's operations, and the tax consequences of the spin-off to AMCOL and its stockholders.

Larry Washow, AMCOL's president and chief executive officer, said, "The Board of Directors' decision to remain independent reflects the desire to continue building on the strength and success of our core business. With nearly 75 years of experience, AMCOL and its subsidiaries have created a strong position within our markets. Advancing technology to grow our businesses, we see exciting prospects in our environmental offshore, in our drilling product areas, as well as our other specialty minerals' applications. During 2001, AMCOL's Board of Directors and management expect to continue to execute a strategy that will deliver long-term value to our shareholders."

AMCOL also announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase program under which the company intends to buy back $10 million of stock over the next 24 months. The purchases may be made from time to time in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions and will be dependent upon various business and financial considerations.

Washow added, "We are pleased to be able to renew our stock repurchase program with the new $10 million authorization. We have previously used the repurchase program to buy AMCOL stock for treasury purposes when financial and market conditions, as well as price, were attractive."

This release contains certain forward-looking statements regarding AMCOL's expected performance for future periods and actual results might materially differ. AMCOL assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements. All such forward-looking statements are subject to uncertainties, which include, but are not limited to, actual growth in AMCOL's various markets, utilization of AMCOL's plants, currency exchange rates, currency devaluation, delays in development, production and marketing of new products, integration of acquired businesses, and other factors detailed from time to time in AMCOL's annual report and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

AMCOL International Corp. produces and markets specialty mineral products used for industrial, environmental and consumer-related applications. The company operates in three industry segments, minerals, environmental and transportation. AMCOL's common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "ACO." The company's web site is www.amcol.com .
SOURCE AMCOL International Corp.
Web site: http: //www.amcol.com
Company News On-Call: http: //www.prnewswire.com/comp/109852.html or fax, 800-758-5804, ext. 109852
CONTACT: Jennifer Melsheimer, Shareholder Services Coordinator of AMCOL International, 847-394-8730