Lawter International, Inc.
                                  One Terra Way
                                8601 95th Street
                          Kenosha Wisconsin 53142-7716
                                  414/947-7300
                                Fax 414/947-7328


NEWS RELEASE                                    For further information, please
                                                contact:
                                                        Mr. John P. O'Mahoney
                                                        Chairman and CEO



               LAWTER INTERNATIONAL AND ESTATE OF DANIEL J. TERRA
                             AGREE ON STOCK BUYBACK


        Kenosha, Wisconsin, March 19, 1998 - Lawter International, Inc. (NYSE:
LAW) announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement with the
Estate of Daniel J. Terra for the repurchase by Lawter of the Estate's entire
holdings of Law ter Common Stock.  The 11,503,130 shares, representing
approximately 25.4% of Lawter's outstanding Common Stock, will be purchased for
$11.375 per share, for a total purchase price of  $130,848,000. The purchase is
expected to be completed by April 1 7, 1998, subject to certain customary
closing conditions and will be funded by a combination of debt and cash.

 John O'Mahoney, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lawter, commented that,
 "We believe this transaction will be beneficial to both parties.  From the
 standpoint of Lawter and its stockholders, other than the Estate, the
 transaction is accretive to earnings per share.  Moreover, it achieves a
 restructuring of our capital base to reflect more appropriate leverage for our
 company and does so in a transaction that does not reduce the real public float
 in our shares.  Finally, the market overha ng represented by the Estate's
 holdings will be eliminated".

Lawter is a specialty chemical company, with 20 facilities in 15 countries
 throughout the world.  It is a major manufacturer and distributor of printing
 ink vehicles, wax compounds and powders, and synthetic and hydrocarbon resins
 to the graphic arts industry.  Lawter also serves the industrial coatings,
 adhesives and rubber industries.

        This press release contains forward-looking statements which are not
historical facts.  These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ materially, including, but not limited to,
certain global and r egional economic conditions and factors detailed in the
Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.