LONDON, June 24, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- The Stolt-Nielsen Transportation Group (SNTG), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Stolt-Nielsen S.A. (Nasdaq:SNSA) (Oslo Stock Exchange:SNI), today confirmed that the U.S. Department of Justice has advised the Company that it is charging Mr. Richard Wingfield, an executive with the Company, with a violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act regarding alleged collusion in the parcel tanker industry. The Department of Justice has advised the Company that it no longer considers Mr. Wingfield to be covered by the conditional amnesty granted to the Company. Mr. Wingfield has been suspended from his position with the Company.
Stolt-Nielsen S.A. is one of the world's leading providers of transportation services for bulk liquid chemicals, edible oils, acids, and other specialty liquids. The Company, through its parcel tanker, tank container, terminal, rail and barge services, provides integrated transportation for its customers. The Company also owns 63 percent of Stolt Offshore S.A. (Nasdaq:SOSA) (Oslo Stock Exchange:STO), which is a leading offshore contractor to the oil and gas industry. Stolt Offshore specializes in providing technologically sophisticated offshore and subsea engineering, flowline and pipeline lay, construction, inspection, and maintenance services. Stolt Sea Farm, wholly-owned by the Company, produces and markets high quality Atlantic salmon, salmon trout, turbot, halibut, sturgeon, caviar, bluefin tuna, and tilapia.