Exhibit 99.1


                     HACH AND LAWTER AGREE ON STOCK BUYBACK


     LOVELAND, COLORADO, JUNE 26, 1997  Hach Company (NASDAQ: HACH) announced
today that it has entered into a definitive agreement with Lawter International
for the repurchase by Hach Company of Lawter International's entire holdings of
Hach Company Common Stock.  The 3,157,220 shares, representing approximately 28%
of Hach Company's outstanding Common Stock, will be purchased for $19.00 per
share.  The purchase will be made using approximately $25 million to $30 million
of cash on hand, supplemented by bank borrowings.  The purchase is expected to
be completed shortly, subject to certain customary closing conditions.

     "We believe this represents a win-win resolution of a long-standing issue
for both Hach Company and Lawter International.  From the standpoint of Hach
Company and its stockholders, other than Lawter International, the transaction
is significantly and immediately 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 which does not reduce the
real public float in our shares," said Kathryn Hach-Darrow, Hach Company's
chairman and chief executive officer.  "Finally, the market overhang represented
by Lawter International's holdings will be eliminated."

     Hach Company was advised in the transaction by Lazard Freres & Co. LLC.

     Separately, Hach Company indicated that its Board intends to proceed with a
previously-announced proposed amendment to its certificate of incorporation to
create a new non-voting class of common stock.  The proposed amendment will be
submitted for stockholder approval at the Company's annual meeting on September
9, 1997, rather than the special meeting of stockholders previously scheduled
for July 23, 1997, which has been cancelled.

     Hach Company is engaged in the manufacture and distribution of laboratory
instruments, process analyzers, test kits, and analytical reagents which are
used to analyze the chemical content and other properties of water and other
aqueous solutions.

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including without
limitation, statements regarding expected earnings.  Actual results may
materially differ from those in the forward-looking statements.  Factors that
may cause such differences include changes in customer demand and requirements,
delays in introducing new products, foreign exchange rate fluctuations, the
level of government funding, especially funding by municipalities for water-
related products, competition and conditions in the U.S. economy in general, and
worldwide economic conditions.  The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly
update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new
information, further events or otherwise. 

CONTACT:  Gary R. Dreher
          Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
          (970) 669-3050 Ext. 2241