[GRAFTECH LOGO]                   BRANDYWINE WEST, 1521 CONCORD PIKE, SUITE 301
                                                            WILMINGTON, DE 19803

                                                           N E W S R E L E A S E

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                 CONTACT: Elise A. Garofalo
                                                  Director of Investor Relations
                                                                    302-778-8227


      UCAR STOCKHOLDERS APPROVE NAME CHANGE TO GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD.


         Wilmington, DE - May 7, 2002 - UCAR International Inc. (NYSE:UCR) today
announced that the Company's stockholders approved the change of the Company's
name to GrafTech International Ltd. at its annual meeting of stockholders in
Wilmington, DE. The name change was previously approved by the Board of
Directors and is now effective. The Company's common stock will begin trading
under the new trading symbol, "GTI," on the New York Stock Exchange on May 8,
2002.

         "We believe the name GrafTech International Ltd. more accurately
reflects our new emphasis on graphite and carbon technology, our new competitive
strategies and our new corporate vision to be a graphite and carbon technology
based energy solutions company," commented Gil Playford, Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of GrafTech. "Since 2001, we have realigned our Company around
two operating divisions to support this new vision. Graphite Power Systems, an
industrial based division, concentrates on strengthening its position as the
leading major low cost, high quality supplier of graphite and carbon electrodes
and cathodes. Advanced Energy Technology concentrates on leveraging graphite and
carbon materials science and process know-how to capitalize on significant
revenue growth opportunities through new product and service development and
commercialization. Both Divisions are founded upon the common thread of graphite
and carbon technology and will seek to lever that strength to enhance their
competitive advantage and generate revenue, earnings and cash flow growth."

         Graftech Inc., our flexible graphite subsidiary, will retain its
current name and our businesses will continue to use the UCAR and Graftech trade
names and trademarks, respectively. Existing stock certificates bearing the UCAR
name will be honored and do not need to be exchanged for new GrafTech
certificates.

         GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL LTD. IS ONE OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST MANUFACTURERS
AND PROVIDERS OF HIGH QUALITY NATURAL AND SYNTHETIC GRAPHITE AND CARBON BASED
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES, OFFERING ENERGY SOLUTIONS TO INDUSTRY-LEADING CUSTOMERS
WORLDWIDE ENGAGED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF STEEL, ALUMINUM, SILICON METAL,
AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCTS AND ELECTRONICS. WE HAVE 13 MANUFACTURING FACILITIES IN 7
COUNTRIES AND ARE THE LEADING MANUFACTURER IN ALL OF OUR MAJOR PRODUCT LINES. WE
PRODUCE GRAPHITE ELECTRODES THAT ARE CONSUMED PRIMARILY IN THE PRODUCTION OF
STEEL IN ELECTRIC ARC FURNACES, THE STEEL MAKING TECHNOLOGY USED BY ALL
"MINI-MILLS," AND FOR REFINING STEEL IN LADLE FURNACES. WE ALSO PRODUCE CARBON
ELECTRODES THAT ARE CONSUMED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SILICON METAL AND CATHODES
THAT ARE USED IN THE PRODUCTION OF ALUMINUM. OUR SUBSIDIARY, GRAFTECH INC.,
PRODUCES FLEXIBLE GRAPHITE THAT IS USED IN HIGH TEMPERATURE FLUID SEALING AND
GASKET APPLICATIONS AND IS THE BASIS FOR HIGHLY ENGINEERED PRODUCTS AND
SOLUTIONS IN FUEL CELL, ELECTRONICS AND THERMAL MANAGEMENT APPLICATIONS. FOR
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL, CALL 302-778-8227 OR VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT WWW.GRAFTECHINTERNATIONAL.COM. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON GRAFTECH
INC., CALL 216-529-3777 OR VISIT ITS WEBSITE AT WWW.GRAFTECH.COM. FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION ON OUR HIGH TECH HIGH TEMP BUSINESS UNIT, CALL 216-676-2100 OR VISIT
ITS WEBSITE AT WWW.HT2.COM

         NOTE: THIS NEWS RELEASE CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AS DEFINED
IN THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995. THESE INCLUDE
STATEMENTS ABOUT SUCH MATTERS AS FUTURE BENEFITS OF ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
ACTIVITIES, REVENUE GROWTH, GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES AND STRATEGIC PLANS AND
PROGRAMS. WE HAVE NO DUTY TO UPDATE SUCH STATEMENTS. ACTUAL FUTURE EVENTS AND
CIRCUMSTANCES (INCLUDING FUTURE PERFORMANCE, RESULTS AND TRENDS) COULD DIFFER
MATERIALLY FROM THOSE SET FORTH IN THESE STATEMENTS DUE TO VARIOUS FACTORS.
THESE FACTORS INCLUDE THE OCCURRENCE OF UNANTICIPATED EVENTS OR CIRCUMSTANCES
RELATING TO RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, COLLABORATION AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
ACTIVITIES, CHANGES IN STRATEGIC PLANS OR PROGRAMS, CHANGES IN GLOBAL OR
REGIONAL ECONOMIC AND COMPETITIVE CONDITIONS, TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS, AND
OTHER RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES, INCLUDING THOSE DETAILED IN OUR FILINGS WITH THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.