Fujikura Kasei Co., a specialist Japanese paint manufacturer, has forged an alliance
with US company Red Spot Paint & Varnish and British firm Sonneborne &
Rieck to develop and market special paints for plastic parts used in passenger
vehicles.

Each of the partners will take a five percent stake in the others by the end
of 2001.

The companies will jointly develop special paints and divide up responsibility
for global production and sales.

Fujikura Kasei will take charge of Asia, Red Spot will oversee North and South
America and Sonneborne & Rieck will handle Europe and Africa.