EXHIBIT 99
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: H.B. Fuller will host a conference call September 26, 2001 at 9:30 a.m.
central time (10:30 a.m. eastern time). The call can be heard live over the
Internet at H.B. Fuller's website at http://www.hbfuller.com under the section
shareholder information or at www.streetevents.com.


        H.B. Fuller Reports Significantly Improved Third Quarter Results


ST. PAUL, Minn. - H.B. Fuller Company (NASDAQ: FULL) today reported net income
for the third quarter ended September 1, 2001 of $14.6 million or $1.03 per
share (diluted). Last year's third quarter net income was $7.4 million or $0.52
per share (diluted). The increase in income includes the results of improved
operating efficiencies combined with a one-time tax benefit of $0.19 per share
(diluted).

Al Stroucken, chairman, president and chief executive officer remarked, "I am
very proud of our total organization and the tenacity which they have
demonstrated over the past year. In a difficult economic environment, our
associates have continued to provide to our customers the value-added services
which set us apart from our competitors while carefully managing our spend
levels which has allowed us to post this significant improvement in earnings."

Third Quarter Net Sales
-----------------------
Net sales for the third quarter of 2001 were $315.7 million, a 3.1 percent
decrease from the third quarter of 2000. Lower volume, a result of the weak
global economies, and effects from foreign currencies accounted for a decrease
of 3.1 and 2.3 percent respectively. These negative effects were partially
offset by an increase in pricing of 2.3 percent.

Third Quarter Segment Sales
---------------------------
     >>   North America Adhesives net sales decreased 2.0 percent compared to
          last year.

          o    Volume decreased 4.4 percent.
          o    Prices increased 2.6 percent.
          o    Currency had a negative impact of 0.2 percent.


                                       1


     >>   Europe Adhesives net sales decreased 5.2 percent compared to last
          year.
          o    Volume decreased 2.0 percent.
          o    Prices increased 4.3 percent
          o    The currency impact was a negative 7.5 percent.

     >>   Latin America Adhesives net sales decreased 3.4 percent compared to
          last year.
          o    Volume decreased 4.1 percent.
          o    Prices increased 0.7 percent.

     >>   Asia/Pacific Adhesives net sales decreased 1.9 percent compared to
          last year.
          o    Volume increased 6.1 percent.
          o    Prices increased 3.2 percent
          o    Negative currency effects were 11.2 percent.

     >>   Specialty Group net sales decreased 4.5 percent.
          o    Volume decreased 4.2 percent.
          o    Prices increased 0.3 percent.
          o    Negative currency effects were 0.6 percent

Operating income increased, as compared to the third quarter of 2000, in all the
segments except for the Specialty Group.


                                       2


Nine Month Results
------------------
For the first nine months of 2001, net income was $32.0 million or $2.26 per
share (diluted). For the same period in 2000, net income was $34.9 million or
$2.47 per share (diluted).

Net sales for the first nine months of 2001 were $951.2 million, a 4.9 percent
decrease from the first nine months of 2000. Volume was down 5.0 percent while
selling price increases of 2.3 percent were offset by negative currency effects
of 2.2 percent.

H.B. Fuller Company is a worldwide manufacturer and marketer of adhesives,
sealants, coatings, paints and other specialty chemical products, with fiscal
2000 sales of $1.353 billion. Common stock is traded on the NASDAQ exchange
under the symbol FULL. For more information about the company, visit our website
at: http://www.hbfuller.com.

Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statement
Certain statements in this document are forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These
statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including but not
limited to the following: political and economic conditions; product demand and
industry capacity; competitive products and pricing; manufacturing efficiencies;
new product development; product mix; availability and price of raw materials
and critical manufacturing equipment; new plant startups; accounts receivable
collection; the company's relationships with its major customers and suppliers;
changes in tax laws and tariffs; patent rights that could provide significant
advantage to a competitor; devaluations and other foreign exchange rate
fluctuations (particularly with respect to the euro, the Japanese yen, the
Australian dollar and the Brazilian real); the regulatory and trade environment;
and other risks as indicated from time to time in the company's filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking information represents
management's best judgment as of this date based on information currently
available that in the future may prove to have been inaccurate. Additionally,
the variety of products sold by the company and the regions where the company
does business makes it difficult to determine with certainty the increases or
decreases in sales resulting from changes in the volume of products sold,
currency impact, changes in product mix and selling prices. However,
management's best estimates of these changes as well as changes in other factors
have been included. References to volume changes includes volume and product mix
changes, combined.


                                       3


                               H.B. FULLER COMPANY
                              FINANCIAL INFORMATION
               In thousands, except per share amounts (unaudited)



                                  13 Weeks      13 Weeks       39 Weeks      39 Weeks
                                    Ended         Ended          Ended         Ended
                                  1-Sep-01      26-Aug-00      1-Sep-01      26-Aug-00
                                  ---------     ----------     ---------     ---------
                                                                 
Net sales                         $ 315,712     $  325,977     $ 951,153     $ 999,780
Cost of sales                      (229,789)      (239,930)     (694,442)     (720,886)
                                  ---------     ----------     ---------     ---------

Gross profit                         85,923         86,047       256,711       278,894

Selling, administrative and
   other expenses                   (61,173)       (67,034)     (194,064)     (204,459)
Nonrecurring credits                                   --            --            300
Interest expense                     (5,198)        (5,802)      (16,364)      (17,999)
Other income (expense), net          (1,537)        (1,591)       (2,229)       (2,219)
                                  ---------     ----------     ---------     ---------

Income before income taxes
   and minority interests            18,015         11,620        44,054        54,517

Income taxes                         (3,676)        (4,293)      (12,790)      (20,171)

Minority interests in
   consolidated income                 (177)          (285)         (687)       (1,262)

Income from equity investments          426            352         1,421         1,812
                                  ---------     ----------     ---------     ---------

Net income                        $  14,588     $    7,394     $  31,998     $  34,896
                                  =========     ==========     =========     =========

Basic income per common share     $    1.04     $     0.53     $    2.29     $    2.51
Diluted income per common share   $    1.03     $     0.52     $    2.26     $    2.47

Dividends per common share        $   0.215     $    0.210     $    0.64     $   0.625

Weighted-average common shares
   outstanding
   Basic                             13,985         13,938        13,976        13,903
   Diluted                           14,198         14,102        14,153        14,096



Select Balance Sheet Information (subject to change prior to filing of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Inventory                         $ 147,315     $  156,964
Trade accounts receivable, net      213,766        219,707
Trade accounts payable              111,129        118,541
Total assets                        990,867      1,008,735
Long-term debt                      230,824        250,579
Stockholders' equity                430,693        397,637



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pursuant to FASB Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 00-10, Accounting for
Shipping and Handling Fees and Costs, the company has reclassified freight
billed to customers from selling, administrative and other expenses to net
sales, and has reclassified related freight costs from selling, administrative
and other expenses to cost of sales.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                       4