Johnson Family Embarks on Journey to Find Original Carnauba Airplane

Johnson Family Embarks on Journey to Find Original Carnauba Airplane

Plans Continue for New Tribute Building in Racine

RACINE, Wis., June 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Today SC Johnson Chairman and CEO Fisk Johnson announced "Finding Carnauba," a journey he and several family members will embark upon. The Johnsons are hoping to find the wreckage of the original Carnauba airplane that was lost in the Pacific Ocean.

Johnson's late grandfather H.F. Johnson, Jr. flew the legendary amphibious plane 15,000 miles to Brazil in 1935, searching for a sustainable source of wax -- the Carnauba palm tree. In 1998, Johnson, his father and brother retraced the expedition in a replica of the Carnauba plane, completing a historic family journey chronicled in the film Carnauba, A Son's Memoir.

"My father always felt that the spirit of adventure embodied by my grandfather's expedition reflected the spirit, culture and history of the company -- and there is no better symbol of that spirit than the aircraft itself," said Johnson. "The Carnauba plane represents the spirit of family, the spirit of adventure, and the spirit of leadership -- all values that are part of who we are as a company."

This summer's Finding Carnauba journey was inspired by underwater video footage recently captured off the coast of Indonesia. The footage offers a glimpse of the skeleton of an aircraft that resembles the Carnauba's unique shape. Noted Johnson, "The Carnauba expedition started with that remarkable plane. Ultimately, both the 1935 and 1998 journeys were tremendously important to me, my family and the company. We are thrilled to know that the Carnauba plane may be found."

Johnson also announced today the continuation of Project Honor, the plan to construct a new building honoring the late Chairman Emeritus Sam Johnson. The building, which will be on the company's campus in Racine, will display the replica Carnauba aircraft from the 1998 expedition, along with hopes to feature photos or part of the original Carnauba plane. It will also convey the extraordinary and inspirational story of the Carnauba adventure, while offering an educational, informative experience for the community and visitors.

"I could not be more excited about being one step closer to making this dream a reality," said Johnson. "Sharing the Carnauba and all it stands for with the people of SC Johnson, the other Johnson companies as well as the residents of Racine will be a fitting tribute to my father."

Along with celebrating the Carnauba, Project Honor is the impetus for other changes on the headquarters campus. Most notably, the new building will anchor an area envisioned as a "town square" within the company. It will encompass the company's cafeteria, and other services. Noted Johnson, "I see this as a gathering place, a location where the people of SC Johnson will take time out of their day, and spend time together."

Johnson's early vision of sharing this treasured jewel with Racine will be developed by a talented, innovative architectural team. World-renowned architect Lord Norman Foster and his firm, London-based Foster and Partners, will design the building. Among Foster and Partners' works are the new German Parliament in the Reichstag in Berlin, the Hearst Building in New York, the Great Court at the British Museum in London, the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and the new Beijing International Airport.

Foster and Partners was selected at the conclusion of an exhaustive search conducted by SC Johnson, which included criteria for sustainable design, innovation and integrating new works with architecturally significant buildings.

"Seventy years ago, my grandfather commissioned Frank Lloyd Wright to design the Administration Building that became an icon. Now, as we plan a new building, we have great confidence in this team, who shares the company's commitment to innovative design and creativity," said Johnson.

"I consider it a real privilege to be given this opportunity to work with an enlightened client, on a fascinating project, next to one of the 20th Century's seminal buildings, to provide SC Johnson with a new social heart for their headquarters in Racine," said Lord Foster of Thames Bank O.M.

The company anticipates that the project will generate approximately 100- 200 construction jobs and is committed to seeking approximately 15% minority participation and approximately 30% local participation. The groundbreaking is scheduled for Spring 2007 with an anticipated completion date of late Fall 2008.

SC Johnson is a family-owned and -managed business dedicated to innovative, high-quality products, excellence in the workplace and a long-term commitment to the environment and the communities in which it operates. Based in the USA, the company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household cleaning products and products for home storage, air care, personal care and insect control. It markets such well-known brands as EDGE(R), GLADE(R), OFF!(R), PLEDGE(R), RAID(R), SCRUBBING BUBBLES(R), SHOUT(R), WINDEX(R) and ZIPLOC(R) in the U.S. and beyond, with brands marketed outside the U.S. including AUTAN(R), BAYGON(R), BRISE(R), ECHO(R), KABIKILLER(R), KLEAR(R), and MR. MUSCLE(R). The 120-year old company, with nearly $7 billion in sales, employs approximately 12,000 people globally and sells products in more than 110 countries. http://www.scjohnson.com/.

Finding Carnauba Fact Sheet

WHO: Fisk Johnson, Chairman and CEO of SC Johnson

Curt Johnson, Chairman of JohnsonDiversey

Helen Johnson-Leipold, Chairman and CEO of Johnson Outdoors and
Chairman of Johnson Financial Group

Gene Johnson, mother of Fisk, Curt and Helen, and wife of late
Chairman Emeritus Sam Johnson

WHAT: Finding Carnauba is a diving expedition to find the wreckage of a
historic aircraft once owned by SC Johnson. The Carnauba aircraft
was a colorful, amphibious plane used by H.F. Johnson, Jr. --
grandfather of current SC Johnson Chairman and CEO Fisk Johnson --
for a historic expedition to Brazil in 1935.

H.F.'s 15,000-mile journey sought a sustainable source of wax for
the company -- the carnauba palm tree. The adventurous expedition
over time came to symbolize SC Johnson's spirit, culture and
history. It was retraced in 1998 by the late Sam Johnson and his
sons, Fisk and Curt Johnson, flying a replica of the Carnauba.

The original Carnauba plane was lost in the Pacific Ocean soon
after the 1935 expedition, however the Johnson family now has a
lead on where it might be found.

WHERE: The Johnsons will travel to Manokwari Bay, off the coast of
Indonesia.

WHEN: Departure is scheduled for Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Project Honor Fact Sheet

WHAT: Project Honor is a tribute to late Chairman Emeritus Sam Johnson.
It includes the construction of a building on SC Johnson's
headquarters campus in Racine, Wisconsin.

The new building will display the replica aircraft flown by Sam
and his sons to Brazil in the 1998 Carnauba expedition. The
project will seek to articulate the extraordinary story of the
Carnauba adventure, and offer an educational, informative
experience for the community and visitors.

Project Honor also is the impetus for other changes to the
headquarters campus, including the creation of a "town square"
within the company. This area in the new building will encompass
the company's cafeteria and other services for employees.

WHO: SC Johnson Chairman and CEO Fisk Johnson's early vision for this
project will be developed by a talented, innovative architectural
team. World-renowned architect Lord Norman Foster and his firm,
London-based Foster and Partners, will design the building.

Foster and Partners is recognized for integrating new design with
existing architectural gems, and Lord Foster himself has taken
inspiration from Frank Lloyd Wright. Foster and Partners is also
known for environmentally progressive works, including designing
in ways to reduce fuel consumption and cut greenhouse gas
emissions.

The project is anticipated to generate approximately 100 to 200
construction jobs. The company will seek approximately 15 percent
minority participation and approximately 30 percent local
participation.

WHERE: The SC Johnson world headquarters campus, located in Racine,
Wisconsin

WHEN: The groundbreaking is scheduled for Spring 2007 with an
anticipated completion date of late Fall 2008.

CONTACT

Kelly Semrau
262-260-2102
KMSemrau@scj.com

WEB ADDRESS
http://www.scjohnson.com/http://www.cleanhomejournal.com/

Source: SC Johnson

CONTACT: Kelly Semrau, +1-262-260-2102, KMSemrau@scj.com

Web site: http://www.scjohnson.com/
http://www.cleanhomejournal.com/

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