Gasser Elected to Battelle's Board of Directors

COLUMBUS, OH--(Marketwire - May 25, 2011) - Battelle, the world's leading independent scientific research and technology development organization, today announced the election of an experienced global business executive to its Board of Directors. Effective immediately, Michael Gasser of Greif, Inc. (NYSE: GEF) (NYSE: GEF.B) joins some of the nation's foremost business, military and scientific leaders serving on Battelle's Board.

Over the past 17 years, Mr. Gasser has built the Delaware, Ohio-based Greif, Inc. (Greif), into a multi-national company with operations in more than 50 countries, 16,000 employees, and with sales of $3.5 billion. Under his guidance, Greif has become a market leader in the industrial shipping container business.

"Mike is an outstanding addition to our Board. He has the strong local and global perspective that we were looking for in a Board member," stated John McCoy, Battelle Board Chairman.

Battelle President and CEO Jeff Wadsworth added that, "Mike's experience and insights into building a successful global business, combined with his passion for strengthening the community, will be invaluable to us as we continue to grow Battelle domestically and internationally."

Last month, Mr. Gasser announced his plans to focus more on directing the corporate strategy for Greif, and transitioning the role of CEO to President David B. Fischer. In November, Mr. Gasser will become Executive Chairman of Greif, the company he joined in 1979.

Mr. Gasser serves on Boards of Directors for Bob Evans Farms and the James Foundation. He also serves on the Development Board for The James Cancer Center at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center.

About Greif, Inc.
Greif is a world leader in industrial packaging products and services. The company produces steel, plastic, fiber, flexible, corrugated and multiwall containers and containerboard, and provides blending, filling and packaging services for a wide range of industries. Greif also manages timber properties in North America. The company is strategically positioned in more than 50 countries to serve global as well as regional customers.

About Battelle
As the world's largest independent research and development organization, Battelle provides innovative solutions to the world's most pressing needs through its four global businesses: Laboratory Management; National Security; Health and Life Sciences; and Energy, Environment and Material Sciences. It advances scientific discovery and application by conducting $6.5 billion in global R&D annually through contract research, laboratory management and technology commercialization. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Battelle oversees 22,000 employees in more than 130 locations worldwide, including seven national laboratories which Battelle manages or co-manages for the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and a nuclear energy lab in the United Kingdom.

Battelle also is one of the nation's leading charitable trusts focusing on societal and economic impact and actively supporting and promoting science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education.