Kline News

LITTLE FALLS, NJ, April 19, 2010 – Worldwide consulting and research firm Kline & Company announced Eric Vogelsberg as the head of the firm’s global M&A and Corporate Development Practice. The move recognizes Vogelsberg’s work to expand Kline’s M&A portfolio from an acknowledged leader in the development of market and competitive intelligence for buy-side transactions to a full-service, global M&A, and corporate development advisory. In addition, the firm announced that Glyn Johnson will lead the Practice’s efforts in Europe, leveraging his years of successful transaction experience and longstanding relationships with financial clients and industry leaders.

Kline’s M&A and Corporate Development Advisory advocates a disciplined and systematic approach throughout the investment/divestment process, which in conjunction with its deep industry knowledge allows the firm an unparalleled perspective on unlocking hidden value.

An enhanced portfolio of M&A services will be introduced over the next few months. It is expected to carry significant appeal to both financial sponsors and strategic clients based on the preliminary feedback already received.

“As of the first of the year, I have been charged with realizing our full potential in mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures, and I am pleased to report that I now lead our global M&A Practice,” affirms Vogelsberg, further noting, “We are seeking to maximize the leverage of our expertise, experience, and relationships in this space—the traditionally sourcing of and buy-side due diligence on investment opportunities for both operating companies and financial sponsors—across all four of our core industry verticals: chemicals and materials; energy/lubricants; consumer products; and life sciences—on a global basis.” Vogelsberg adds, “I am especially pleased to be working side-by-side with Glyn, whose many years of successful M&A experience and deep industry expertise provide our European clients with an invaluable local resource to support them in successfully achieving their objectives and aspirations.”

With this move, Vogelsberg underscores Kline’s commitment to help clients translate objectives and aspirations into M&A strategy and execution options on the buy side and then help clients capture the value of the deal. On the sell side, he points to Kline’s ability to optimize exit positioning to maximize the value realized throughout the process.

“Eric has led or been involved with most of the M&A assignments Kline has completed over the past fifteen years,” says Joe Tarantola, Kline’s CEO. “With his extensive experience, Eric truly understands the process and what our clients need so he can maximize the value we provide to them through the entire cooperation process.” Tarantola notes that Johnson is a key addition to the Practice and further emphasizes the firm’s commitment to its M&A and corporate development clients. “In conjunction with Eric, Glyn’s involvement ensures that our clients have access to Kline’s most experienced professionals on a local basis.”

Together, Vogelsberg and Johnson bring nearly 70 years of industry and consulting experience to their clients and engagement. They have advised hundreds of clients on a range of corporate finance matters including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and asset sales, as well as the development and execution of the strategies underlying these transactions.

In M&A, they have driven the expansion of the firm’s relationships both within its traditional client base of privately held companies and publicly traded multinational corporations in its core industries and with financial such sponsors as private equity groups, investment banks, and venture capital firms, as well as firms focused on corporate turnaround and restructuring.

Prior to joining Kline, Eric spent 10 years in sales, service, and management roles of increasing responsibility in the specialty chemicals industry through his association with Hercules Incorporated and the Harshaw Chemical Company. Prior to Kline, Glyn was manager of the Strategy & Finance Practice of Nexant Ltd and before that was a partner in Chem Systems Ltd. leading the Polymer Practice. Earlier in his career he was head of new product/business developments in European Vinyls Corporation and had held a range of positions in ICI plc.

Vogelsberg is a member of the Association for Corporate Growth, the Society of the Chemical Industry, and the Societe de Chimie Industrielle. He has served as a Director of the Commercial Development and Marketing Association. Johnson is a member of the Institute of Materials and an often invited speaker at petroleum and petrochemical industry conferences.

About Kline
Kline is a worldwide consulting and research firm dedicated to providing the kind of insight and knowledge that helps companies find a clear path to success. The firm has served the management consulting and market research needs of organizations in the chemicals, materials, energy, life sciences, and consumer products industries over 50 years. For more information, visit www.klinegroup.com.