-- Fred du Plessis Discusses Chemical Clusters on Plenary Panel --

LITTLE FALLS, NJ, December 27, 2007 – Fred du Plessis, Senior Vice President of Kline Europe, participated in a discussion of chemical clusters on a plenary panel at the European Petrochemical Association’s annual meeting in Berlin this past October.

Sharing the platform with Michael Porter, the Bishop William Lawrence University Professor at Harvard Business School, Tom Crotty, CEO of Ineos Olefins, and other distinguished industry leaders, du Plessis shared his insights from the EPCA’s recently completed Think Tank project on supply chain optimization in European chemical clusters.

“Dissemination of the Think Tank’s key conclusions is an essential component of optimization of European chemical supply chains,” says du Plessis. “The advantages of chemical site clusters cannot be fully realized until there is industry-wide understanding of the benefits and hurdles accompanying them.”

As a member of the steering committee, Du Plessis, who is also treasurer of the European Chemical Site Promotion Platform, played a leading role in the EPCA’s Think Tank, which studied two representative European chemical clusters—the Antwerp-Rotterdam-Rhine-Ruhr (ARRR) cluster in northwest Europe and the Tarragona cluster in Spain. The findings of the EPCA Think Tank have been published in a report available to members of the EPCA and the ECSPP.

For more information on chemical site cluster business strategies or the European Chemical Site Promotion Platform contact fred_duPlessis@KlineGroup.com. For information about EPCA visit http://www.epca.be/. 

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 for nearly 50 years. For more information, visit www.klinegroup.com.

LITTLE FALLS, NJ, December 19, 2007 – While global demand for asphalt is growing at less than 3% annually, demand in China has been growing at over 12% and is currently over 11 million metric tons per year, according to according to analysts at Kline, an international consulting and research firm. The recently published FlashPoint report, Opportunities for Asphalt in Asia: Paving a Path to Growth, provides insight into current and future trends in the asphalt business throughout the Asia Pacific region.

“China is emerging as the world’s largest consumer of asphalt, and its state-run production plants are ramping up to keep pace with demand,” says Nancy Mills, FlashPoint project manager. “Continual infrastructure development is expected to take place over the next 30 years, so the door is wide open for companies to gain a foothold in the market. While we don’t see a commercial opportunity in China for refining, there are opportunities in the areas of distribution, production of the bituminous mixture, and other businesses related to asphalt.”

Despite more than doubling its annual production over the last few years, China remains unable to meet its own demand and still imports more than 20% of the asphalt it consumes, according to Kline’s report.

The report also points to the major national and pan-national road-building projects across Asia that are opening opportunities all along the asphalt value chain. “India recently announced the use of asphalt instead of concrete for some major projects,” Mills added.

Kline’s FlashPoint series helps clients make critical decisions about how to respond to market opportunities and issues as they unfold. For more information about Opportunities for Asphalt in Asia: Paving a Path to Growth, go to www.klinegroup.com/reports/f0709.asp.

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 for nearly 50 years. For more information, visit www.klinegroup.com.

-- Kline FlashPoint Reports Explore Markets for Ultra-Low-Sulfur Diesel and Next-Generation Biofuels --

LITTLE FALLS, NJ, December 17, 2007 – The global drive toward “clean diesel” and petroleum alternatives continues to accelerate, creating opportunities in the ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD) and biofuels industries for certain products and services, according to analysts at Kline & Company an international consulting and research firm.

Two recently published FlashPoint reports from Kline examine potentially lucrative openings in markets related to ULSD and next-generation biofuels. Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel: Opportunities in Developing Markets and Next-Generation Biofuels: Steps Toward Commercial Viability provide insights into strategies for companies in petroleum and biofuels-related industries to take advantage of legislative mandates and emerging markets.

“Lack of petroleum resources is a global issue,” says Nancy Mills, Kline FlashPoint project manager. “Many countries have initiated low-sulfur mandates to curb greenhouse gas emissions. This highlights a need for fuel alternatives in many countries, indicating a large potential growth market.”

While the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries are leading this drive for more environmentally friendly fuels, significant growth for ULSD will come from emerging economies, where both the growth rate of diesel consumption and the level of desulfurization needed is high. Opportunities exist for companies to sell extraction technology equipment, engineering services, and refinery catalysts to national oil companies or refineries in those countries to help them reduce the sulfur levels in diesel fuels.

Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel: Opportunities in Developing Markets analyzes opportunities in the major developing economies, including Brazil, China, India, and Russia, and provides valuable intelligence for the stakeholders in the diesel value chain, including governments, refineries, delivery systems, fuel marketers, and car manufacturers.

In addition, the global impetus for reducing fossil fuel usage is stimulating research for better biofuels. Next-Generation Biofuels: Steps Toward Commercial Viability discusses developments in biofuels and the advantages and disadvantages associated with several materials and processes, including Fischer-Tropsh diesel, cellulosic ethanol, and biosynthetic natural gas, among others. The report examines a range of transportation fuels made from lignocellulosic and agricultural waste biomass feedstock. It provides a qualitative overview of the market, the most important issues to consider, and the significant factors in supply and demand within the competitive landscape.

For more information about Kline’s two most recently published FlashPoint reports, go to https://klinegroup.com/market-research/research_petroleum.asp.

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 for nearly 50 years. For more information, visit www.klinegroup.com.

-- Fred du Plessis Appointed Senior Vice President of Kline Europe --

LITTLE FALLS, NJ, December 06, 2007 – Worldwide consulting and research firm www.KlineGroup.com today announced the opening of a new European headquarters office in Oxford, UK. Chemical industry veteran, Fred du Plessis, who joined Kline earlier this year, will serve as Senior Vice President of Kline Europe and will direct Kline’s management consulting activities in that region. He will concentrate on expanding Kline’s services to European clients, particularly in the chemical and petrochemical industries.

The new office at the Magdalen Centre in Oxford Science Park, Oxford, represents the firm’s strategy to commit more business consulting resources to clients with operations located in Europe. At the same time, Kline’s office in Brussels has been moved to a more expansive facility on the Avenue de Tervuren.

“Our ongoing investment in talent and infrastructure to support our European clients has never been so strong,” said Kline chairman and CEO Joe Tarantola. “The addition of Fred to our executive team instantly enhances the company’s global platform, and our capabilities in conducting high-end consulting engagements focused on helping our clients excel. He will be a valuable resource to our clients in assessing opportunities and strategies for growth. Fred also provides key leadership to our growing international chemical and petrochemical consulting practice.”

Du Plessis has extensive leadership and consulting experience. His involvement in more than 100 international strategy projects throughout 40 countries has helped businesses in site selection and development, marketing, product development, and bulk liquid supply chain strategies. He is also president of the European Chemical Marketing and Strategy Association (ECMSA), a position he has held since 2002, and currently treasurer of the European Chemical Site Promotion Platform (ECSPP). Du Plessis comes to Kline with more than 25 years of global business and consulting experience, including more than 16 years at the Sasol Group.

“I can clearly see the unique value proposition that Kline now brings to its clients through the combination of industry expertise, global reach, and management consulting capabilities, and I am pleased to begin a new chapter in my career at this exciting time in the company’s evolution.” said du Plessis.

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 for nearly 50 years. For more information, visit www.KlineGroup.com.

-- Kline FlashPoint Report Discusses Strategies to Minimize Impact --

LITTLE FALLS, NJ, November 27, 2007 –Many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) selling in the European Union could be caught off-guard by the recently implemented REACH regulations requiring registration and approval of chemicals used in manufacturing, according to Kline, a worldwide consulting and research firm.

REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals) is a wide-ranging set of EU legislation intended to manage and control the risks to human health and the environment from the use of chemicals.

Many potentially affected companies may be unaware that the REACH legislation applies to them. For example, Kline’s research shows that smaller companies in the recycled paper, secondary raw materials, and metalworking fluids industries are largely unaware of the REACH requirements.

“REACH will impact all EU manufacturers and downstream users of chemicals as well as importers of chemicals into the EU,” says Nancy Mills, FlashPoint project manager for Kline. The newly published Kline FlashPoint report, REACH: A Regulatory Behemoth, reviews the scope of this legislation, outlines its impact on businesses, and offers companies strategies to prepare for compliance.

“It’s important to act now to avoid future costs and the potential disruption of production and distribution,” says Mills. “SMEs are going to be the most affected, since the cost of registering the chemicals used in a company’s processes will be more deeply felt by them. Larger companies not only have more resources but higher volumes, which will enable them to lower the cost per ton of registering a chemical.”

Among the recommendations provided in the report, Kline suggests SMEs offering the same chemical should consider jointly pre-registering that chemical to reduce the cost per volume.

For more information about REACH: A Regulatory Behemoth, go to www.klinegroup.com/reports/f0703.asp.

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 for nearly 50 years. For more information, visit www.klinegroup.com.

-- Kline Report on Smart Coatings Cites Immediate Opportunities in Antimicrobial Coatings, Cool Paint, and Smart Glass --

LITTLE FALLS, NJ, November 19, 2007 – The recent announcement by Medicare and Medicaid that they will no longer reimburse expenses related to most hospital-acquired infections has created opportunity for companies in the paint and coatings industries to sell antimicrobial coatings, according to analysts at Kline, a worldwide consulting and research firm.

Coatings added to paint that kill molds and/or bacteria are clearly advantageous for use in hospitals, locker rooms, schools, and other public areas. “About 5 to 10 percent of patients get an infection while they are in the hospital, at an average extra cost of $15,000 per patient,” says Nancy Mills, FlashPoint project manager. “Antimicrobial smart coatings on floors and walls will not completely solve the problem, but they will go a long way toward reducing it.”

Smart coatings––coatings that respond to external stimuli in their environment––are the focus of Smart Coatings and Smart Opportunities in Antimicrobial, Automotive, and Construction Applications, a new FlashPoint report from Kline. Many smart coatings are complex integrations of traditional coatings with nanotechnology. Smart coatings cover numerous applications, but Kline’s report focuses on three that are particularly interesting for companies along the coatings and pigments value chain: antimicrobial coatings, cool paint, and smart glass.

Whereas demand for antimicrobial smart coatings is growing along with awareness of the problem, legislation may drive the market for cool paint for automobiles. On hot days, cool paint reflects more heat so a car’s air conditioning system use less energy for cooling, resulting in lower fuel consumption and lower emissions. Cool paint is likely to be mandated for use in new cars in California by 2010, and the low cost of using cool paint on new vehicles makes this smart coating application a good choice for energy savings both nationally and globally.

Kline’s FlashPoint series helps clients make critical decisions about how to respond to market opportunities and issues as they unfold. In the smart coatings report, Kline states that opportunities are present at different levels of the value chain for each application, and participating companies must carefully choose their strategy. For more information about this report, visit www.klinegroup.com/reports/f0707.asp.

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 for nearly 50 years. For more information, visit www.KlineGroup.com.

--Clorox’s Acquisition of Burt’s Bees Supports Trend--

LITTLE FALLS, NJ, October 31, 2007 – As the “green” products trend continues to advance, consumer demand for natural personal care products is driving a major shift from niche distribution channels to more mainstream mass retail outlets. This is fueling a sharp increase in sales, according to a newly published study by worldwide consulting and research firm Kline & Company.

“For a long time, natural products have been the domain of health and organic food stores––niche retailers with a core group of loyal customers,” says Karen Doskow, project manager for Kline’s Consumer Products practice. “Naturals are now becoming commonplace in the aisles of national chain grocery and discount stores like Wal-Mart and Target. This will have a major impact on the competitive landscape of the personal care market.”

Kline’s in-depth report Natural Personal Care 2007: Competitive Brand Assessment and Ingredient Analysis indicates that the move to mass retail could help promote a revival of sorts among long-established yet little-known natural products companies like Jason Natural Products and Avalon Natural Products. However, it also makes them prime candidates for acquisition by the major players in the personal care market.

“These small natural companies could pose a threat to the major consumer product marketers, but rather than try to compete with each other, it’s likely we will see strategic acquisitions. Today’s announced acquisition of Burt’s Bees by Clorox is a perfect example,” says Doskow. At first glance, it may seem like an unlikely fit, but Clorox, which is already solidly entrenched in the mass channels, will provide Burt’s Bees access to this wider distribution network, and Clorox gets a foothold in the fastest growing, high-margin segment of personal care.

Key acquisitions could also steer greater regulation of product ingredients, a move which would benefit both marketers and consumers. Currently, the naturals market is virtually unregulated in the United States, which means that authentic natural manufacturers must face off against mainstream imitators and “greenwashing” practices––slick marketing that only sounds natural.

Kline conducted an ingredient analysis for the natural product brands marketed by the 26 key

“Some brands aren’t quite as natural as one may be led to believe,” Doskow says. “Many companies find it very difficult to walk the line between efficacy and being natural.” NaturalPersonal Care 2007: Competitive Brand Assessment and Ingredient Analysis includes profiles of 26 key players in the naturals market, as well as a critique of their raw materials formulations. For more information about this market study, go to www.klinegroup.com/reports/y632.asp or contact Carrie Mellage a +1-973-435-3412 or carrie_mellage@klinegroup.com.

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 marke research needs of organizations in the chemicals, materials, energy, life sciences, and consumer products industries for nearly 50 years. For more information, visit www.KlineGroup.com.

-- Shrinking Base Oil Supply and New Regulations Indicate That the Time is Now For Companies Looking to Stake a Claim --

LITTLE FALLS, NJ, OCTOBER 26, 2007 – Opportunities in automotive lubricants in China are shifting as the market undergoes consolidation amid rapid growth, according to a new report from global consulting and research firm Kline and Company. For companies looking to take advantage of this growth, the increasing complexity of the market has made establishing a presence there vital to maintaining viability, according to analysis contained in the new Kline FlashPoint report, The Automotive Lubricants Market in China: Market Overview and Winning Strategies.

“Now is the time for lubricant companies to get a foothold in this market and take advantage of gaps created by the recent changes in the legislative and competitive climate, but the market is tightening up quickly,” says Nancy Mills, FlashPoint project manager.

Kline’s report suggests that every lubricant company should have a plan for addressing the Chinese marketplace, but it must be well thought out with a solid understanding of the diversified local markets within the country.

Kline’s report provides high-level insights on business opportunities, as well as strategies for competing in this dynamic market. The report concludes that multinational companies (MNCs), while currently in control of the high-end lubricants market, will also need to increase their share in the much larger low-end market.

Acquiring local minor producers is one strategy for MNCs to quickly expand this area of their business in China. As a result, companies can expect more consolidation. To deal with this, the report offers ideas on how to flatten channels and control outlets to maximize performance and profitability as the market tightens.

The Kline FlashPoint series helps clients make critical decisions about how to respond to market opportunities and issues as they unfold. For more information about The Automotive Lubricants Market in China: Market Overview and Winning Strategies, visit www.klinegroup.com/reports/f0706.asp.

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 for nearly 50 years. For more information, visit www.klinegroup.com.

-- New Formulations Generate Marketing Opportunities --

LITTLE FALLS, NJ, October 8, 2007 – As petroleum-based wax supplies continue to erode on a global scale, major wax end-users are using the transition to vegetable-based and synthetic waxes as a marketing opportunity, according to a newly published study by worldwide consulting and research firm Kline & Company.

"The candle business consumes nearly 50% of the global wax supply, despite slow growth in this mature sector of the market,” says Geeta Agashe, a director of the Petroleum & Energy practice at Kline. “To keep pace in a sluggish market, candle companies are taking advantage of the opportunity to market candles made from vegetable and other plant-based waxes as cleaner burning and more environmentally-friendly. So, rather than lamenting the somewhat higher costs of alternative waxes, they are actually turning the challenge into a unique selling proposition for their products."

Mineral-based waxes, a by-product of the Group I solvent extraction lubricant base stock refining process, still account for 87% of waxes on the market, but growing demand for higher performance Group II/III/GTL lubes has sent the global supply of crude-based waxes into a slump. Data from Kline’s in-depth report Global Opportunities and Threats in the Wax Business, 2006-2020 indicates that vegetable, palm, and synthetic waxes are all set to expand over the next 15 years as declining petroleum wax supplies and specialty applications make room for alternatives.

"Developments in refining technology are putting a squeeze on wax supplies,” Agashe says. “The shortfall we predicted two years ago has actually given rise to new opportunities for alternative suppliers. There will always be a need for petroleum-based waxes, but significant growth in the market over the next 10 to 15 years will come from non-petroleum waxes, which we expect will grow to nearly one-fourth of the total supply by 2020."

Global Opportunities and Threats in the Wax Business, 2006-2020 provides a detailed analysis of supply, demand, pricing, competition, and trends in the global wax industry, with a focus on both conventional and synthetic waxes. The report also includes profiles for the top 20 global and regional suppliers, including technology vendors, as well as major global wax end-users.

For more information about this research, go to /reports/y635.asp or contact Geeta Agashe at +1-973-435-3484 or via email.

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 for nearly 50 years. For more information, visit www.KlineGroup.com.

-- Kline Study Reveals Today’s Man Spends Time and Money on Preserving a Youthful Complexion --

LITTLE FALLS, NJ, September 17, 2007 – As sophisticated men around the world embrace the “ubersexual” trend, sales of just-for-men skin care products are skyrocketing, particularly in some of the world’s most mature markets, according to a newly published study by worldwide consulting and research firm Kline & Company. In 2006, male skin care became the single fastest growing category in the global cosmetics and toiletries industry, posting an 8.7% gain, well above the 5.6% industry average.

“Men are becoming more image conscious, realizing there’s no shame in taking care of yourself,” says Deirdre McNulty, project manager for Kline Europe. “It is no longer considered exclusively feminine to moisturize. Manufacturers are heeding the call with products packaged and marketed specifically for men, including anti-aging and wrinkle treatments that mirror women’s lines.”

Data in Kline’s in-depth report Global Cosmetics & Toiletries 2006 indicates that sales of men’s skin care products have shot up 41.5 % in Canada, 21.5 % in France and 19.3% in Italy. Driving the trend, particularly in developed nations where the overall cosmetics and toiletries market is quite mature, is the continuing economic shift from manufacturing industries and manual labor to the service-based professional economy where appearance plays a more important role.

“Men of all ages are trying to look young in order to stay competitive in the workplace,” McNulty says. “Marketers have traditionally targeted the 20-40 age range, but are now going after the image-conscious baby boomers. These men have more money to spend on grooming and are encouraged to do so by the women in their lives.”

McNulty adds that the growing range of sales channels is also boosting sales. Historically the domain of luxury marketers, men’s lines are now mass marketed and available in the supermarket and drug store, making them more accessible to both male and female purchasers.

Published in July 2007, Global Cosmetics & Toiletries 2006 is the latest edition of Kline’s annual service assessing 21 product categories in the cosmetics, toiletries, and fragrance markets across 16 countries in Europe, Asia, Latin America, and North America. Additionally, Kline plans to publish Male Grooming Products 2007 in the first quarter of 2008. This study will examine emerging market opportunities and provide detailed analysis of this robust segment in both the United States and Europe. For more information about Kline’s personal care industry research, go to www.klinegroup.com/reports/reports_consumer.asp?category=19 or contact a member of our global sales team at www.klinegroup.com.

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 for nearly 50 years. For more information, visit www.KlineGroup.com.