Russian Autocatalyst Facility

Johnson Matthey PLC
22 February 2006



                             For immediate release Wednesday 22nd February 2006



           Johnson Matthey to build Autocatalyst facility in Russia


Johnson Matthey has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the First
Deputy Governor of Russia's Krasnoyarsk Region, and the General Director of the
Krastsvetmet Metal Company to secure a brown field site as the first step in a
multi-million pound investment to build an autocatalyst manufacturing plant in
Russia. The site is located within the boundary of the Krastsvetmet's facility
in Krasnoyarsk, Siberia.



Over the last five years Russia has emerged as a significant player in the
global automotive industry, with many international original equipment
manufacturers (OEMs) investing in local manufacturing facilities. Johnson
Matthey plans to build a plant to manufacture emission control catalysts for a
wide range of both diesel and petrol powered vehicles for the local Russian
market, which will see emissions legislation requiring the use of autocatalysts
come into force this spring.



The chosen site is located within the secure perimeter of the Krastsvetmet site
however the new factory will be wholly owned and operated by Johnson Matthey.
Under the terms of the MOU, the new facility will purchase precious metal salts
from Krastsvetmet for use in the manufacture of autocatalysts.  The site has
direct on-site access to the Trans Siberian Railway, which will provide daily
logistical links to the rest of the Russian Federation.  Johnson Matthey already
has significant business links with Krastsvetmet and since 2002 has licensed
them technologies for the production of precious metal gauzes for the chemical
industry.



The MOU was signed by Lev Kuznetsov, the First Deputy Governor of the
Krasnoyarsk Region, Paul Framp, Managing Director European Region, Johnson
Matthey Environmental Catalysts and Technologies, and Igor Tikhov, General
Director of the Krastsvetmet Metal Company.



Commenting on Johnson Matthey's investment plans, Paul Framp said "We have been
closely monitoring the progress of the auto industry in Russia for some time and
we have well established sales to the indigenous car manufacturers. The last few
years have seen significant growth in local vehicle demand and we now seeing
major investments from established European, Asian and American OEMs. With
recent developments in emission legislation in the Russian Federation, the stage
is set for local expansion of autocatalyst manufacturing. We feel that this is
the right time to secure our place in the market and we are very pleased to be
able to strengthen our working relationship with Krastsvetmet and to utilise
their great experience with precious metals".



Enquiries:

Ian Godwin         Director, IR and Corporate Communications       020 7269 8410
Laura Hickman      The HeadLand Consultancy                        020 7367 5227

www.matthey.com



Notes for Editors:

About Johnson Matthey

Johnson Matthey is a speciality chemicals company focused on its core skills in
catalysts, precious metals and fine chemicals.

The group's principal activities are the manufacture of autocatalysts and
pollution control systems, catalysts and components for fuel cells,
pharmaceutical compounds, process catalysts and fine chemicals; the refining,
fabrication and marketing of precious metals; and the manufacture of colours and
coatings for the glass and ceramics industries.

Johnson Matthey has continued to develop its technology for almost 200 years,
demonstrating the company's ability to maintain world leadership by adapting
constantly to rapidly changing customer needs. Rigorous in its own environmental
policies, many of Johnson Matthey's products have a major beneficial impact on
the environment and enhance the quality of life for millions around the world.

Johnson Matthey has operations in 34 countries and employs around 7,400 people.
Its products are sold across the world to a wide range of advanced technology
industries.

The company's Catalysts Division operates globally under the market identity of
Johnson Matthey Catalysts and consists of 3 separate business units.
Environmental Catalysts and Technologies (ECT), which manufactures catalysts for
automobile emission control and the reduction of emissions from industrial
processes, the Fuel Cells business which manufactures fuel cell catalysts and
catalysed components and the Process Catalysts and Technologies (PCT) business
comprising pgm refining, process catalysts and fine and research chemicals.

ECT comprises Johnson Matthey's global autocatalyst, heavy duty diesel and
stationary source emissions control businesses. The company is a world leading
manufacturer of catalysts for vehicle exhaust emission control and a leader in
catalyst systems for the reduction of volatile organic compound emissions from
industrial processes. Manufacturing facilities are located in the USA, UK,
Belgium, Mexico, Argentina, South Africa, Japan, Malaysia, India and China. R&D
facilities are in the USA, UK, Sweden, Japan and Brazil.



About the Russian Motor Industry

Russia's auto industry is around 100 years old, and has produced such classics
as the Zil, Moskvich and Gaz Volga. More recently, there has been mass
production of the best known of all Russian cars, the LADA. The industry is
modernizing rapidly, and the last five years have seen rapid growth, with
significant investments in assembly plants from many international OEMs,
including Ford, GM, Hyundai, Renault, Toyota and VW.

This decade has seen a boom in overall car sales with the bulk of the growth
coming from the new implanted OEMs. This year will see over 1.4 millions cars
manufactured in Russia and this is expected to be close to 2.0 million by the
end of the decade.

The auto industry growth trends are expected to continue with an ever increasing
demand for international products fueled by the buoyant Russian economy.


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange      MSCPUUACPUPQGUP