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INNOSPEC FEATURED IN THE FINANCIAL MEDIA
Innospec featured prominently recently in two leading financial media outlets-US cable TV network CNBC, and online site TheStreet.com. The company was featured as the top small and mid-cap stock pick by Jonathan Vyorst, Paradigm Value Fund Portfolio Manager, in the "5-Star Investors" segment of CNBC on June 16. Innospec was also recently featured as an undervalued stock "with the potential to make big strides" by market commentator Bill Trent in the "RealMoney" section of TheStreet.com.
"Innospec is one of the largest makers of diesel fuel additives, and right now we're seeing a paradigm shift in the United States and in Europe toward more diesel engines," Vyorst told CNBC. "Environmental regulations now also require that companies add more additives to diesel fuel, so these guys are making profits both from volume and from additional environmental regulations."
RealMoney's Bill Trent featured Innospec as part of a series
of articles of firms that are undervalued because of their small
Wall Street following. Innospec trades near the average
price-to-book ratio for the industry despite having one of the
highest returns on equity among its peers, Trent says. "The
company' growth and free cash flow make it one to watch in the
quarters to come," he says. That growth and a modest value
expansion "could combine to total a 20% average annual
return."
INNOSPEC WINS TWO PRESTIGIOUS CIA AWARDS
Innospec scored a double victory in this year's Chemical Industries Association (CIA) awards, the premier accolades for the UK chemical industry, scooping the top prize as Company of the Year, as well as the prestigious Reputation Award. CIA paid tribute to Innospec's efforts that have dramatically transformed its business in recent years, demonstrating proven excellence in the areas of growth, sustainability to the UK economy and investment in people.
"It is great to see a company positively transform itself over the years. Innospec is a prime example of turning ideas into money," said Steve Elliott, CIA Chief Executive. "Once a single product company, Innospec has diversified its product range by investing heavily in R&D and innovation," Elliott said. In addition, the Reputation award recognizes Innospec's efforts in actively engaging with employees, the local community, and schools, he said.
"Winning these awards is a great honour for our company, and a testament to the talent and dedication of our employees," said Paul Jennings, Innospec's President and CEO. "We wanted to win the hearts and minds of our stakeholders through a carefully planned and well-executed strategy combining great communication with delivery of excellent results," Jennings said. "These prestigious awards show that we have achieved that."
SALES RISE, BUT COSTS AND CHARGES HIT PROFITS
Innospec reported healthy sales growth in second-quarter 2008, but earnings were reduced by rising costs and the impact of charges and write- offs. Sales rose 3%, to $145.3 million, but net income fell to $0.8 million ($0.03 per diluted share), compared with $6.8 million in the same quarter last year. "Our results reflect in part our decision to write off certain costs related to potential acquisitions rather than proceed with deals that ultimately did not make sense for Innospec shareholders," said Paul Jennings, President and CEO.
Fuel Specialties delivered a solid performance, Jennings said, with operating income up 6%, to $15.2 million, on a 10% jump in sales, to $94.3 million. Octane Additives was in line with expectations, with operating income of $3.5 million, compared with $6.9 million a year ago, on a 39% decline in sales, to $13.1 million. Active Chemicals had a very difficult quarter, however, in part due to sharp increases in energy and raw material costs. It reported an operating loss $2.4 million, compared with operating income of $1.0 million a year ago, although sales were up 11%, to $37.9 million.
"Our large Fuel Specialties business continues to perform well in the face of an increasingly challenging operating environment," Jennings said. "Active Chemicals should benefit as it passes on more of its cost increases in the months ahead, and as it becomes more fully integrated with Fuel Specialties in a single streamlined organization."
INNOSPEC GETS READY FOR REACH
Innospec is getting ready for REACH, the European legislation that requires registration of toxicological data on all chemicals exceeding 1,000 kg produced or imported into the EU per year per company. Innospec intends to pre-register all substances that it manufactures and imports by December 1, 2008 and work with its suppliers to ensure they pre-register all materials supplied to the company.
"We at Innospec fully support the aims and objectives of REACH, which are to ensure the enhancement of protection for consumers and the environment, without loss of competitiveness for industry," said Richard Shone, Vice President of Safety, Health and Environment. "We have a dedicated and knowledgeable REACH team covering all parts of our business ready to answer questions from suppliers or customers."
Part of the registration process will involve notifying all downstream users of a product and providing exposure scenarios. "We seek the support of our customers to ensure that we have a full understanding of all relevant downstream uses, which is critical, because a product can only be registered and used under REACH for specified downstream uses," said Shone. "Equally, we will be making suppliers aware that they need to register our applications as downstream uses, and that we are willing to help them develop the necessary exposure scenarios."
NEW SURFACTANT'S BENEFITS ARE CRYSTAL CLEAR
Innospec Active Chemicals has introduced an exciting new surfactant for personal care applications. "Pureact SLMI-85 (sodium lauroyl methyl isethionate) provides luxurious lather, excellent skin feel, extreme mildness and the ability to create crystal-clear formulations, perfect for use in shower gels, facial cleansers, shampoos and other personal care products" said Samantha Gardner, Marketing Manager for Innospec Active Chemicals. It is also readily biodegradable, derived from renewable resources, sulfate-free, nitrosamine free and dioxane free.
"Pureact SLMI-85 is the result of a technical collaboration between Innospec and Huntsman Chemical Company" Gardner said. "It is extremely mild and can be used as a primary or secondary surfactant and is ideally used where a dense, luxurious foam and elegant after-feel is desired," she said. "It has excellent water solubility properties which allow it to be used in creating clear liquid cleansing systems."
Although Pureact SLMI-85 is not yet in commercial scale production customers can request samples via the Innospec website.
INNOSPEC REALIGNS BUSINESS TO FOCUS ON KEY REGIONS,
MARKETS AND CUSTOMERS
Newark, Del. - June 23, 2008 - Innospec Inc. (NASDAQ: IOSP) today
announced a further streamlining of its business. Innospec plans to
move to an integrated regional model and will now run its growth
businesses as one streamlined business operating across three
geographical regions - Americas; Europe, Middle East and Africa
(EMEA); and Asia-Pacific - and will report its earnings as one
Global Specialty Chemicals business rather than separating into the
two separate business areas of Fuel Specialties and Active
Chemicals. The Octane Additives business will continue to be
reported as a separate business.
Paul Jennings, Innospec's President and CEO, said, "The further streamlining into a unified, sales-led global business will enable us to focus on rapidly meeting customers' needs anywhere in the world."
Under the new structure, all Innospec Fuel Specialties and Active Chemicals products and services will be offered within each designated region and market.
"Both the Fuel Specialties and Active Chemicals segments
have already been operating on regional models, so the next logical
step was to move the whole business onto this regional operating
model to build on the success of those segments and to become one
business with a simplified and streamlined structure that allows
Innospec to focus on driving sales and profitable growth,
delivering value to our customers and shareholders," said Mr.
Jennings.
PERFUMERS PRAISE INNOSPEC FRAGRANCES
A group of fragrance industry experts has given an enthusiastic
review to three of Innospec's products-Cypriol, Vetimoss, and
Verdirosa. The occasion was the British Society of Perfumery
symposium, held last month at Towcester. Lester Bowman, head of
Innospec Active Chemicals for Europe, the Middle East and Africa
gave a talk to the group, and Peter Whipps, a freelance perfume
expert presented the three fragrances.
Cypriol, which has a spicy floral fragrance, was presented in a linden blossom room spray and peach base, where it confers the rich, natural aroma of real flowers. As well as offering good odour of its own, Cypriol has a substantial floralising effect on any fragrance. Vetimoss, an earthy fragrance used as an extender for clean, woody scents, was presented in a men's Fougère shower gel and Outdoors detergent powder. Verdirosa, newly launched by Innospec, has an intense green rose aroma, and was presented in a scented candle. It also has applications in air fresheners, laundry products, and toilet soap.
The usually subdued group was very enthusiastic about the products on show, particularly Verdirosa, said Dr Mike Veal, at Innospec Active Chemicals. "Innospec is generating a lot of excitement in the industry, with 5 new fragrance products including Verdirosa introduced during the past year," Veal said.
VISCOWAX™ OPE GETS BROAD APPROVAL FOR FOOD
CONTACT
Innospec Active Chemicals is close to receiving approval from the
European Food Safety Association (EFSA) for the use of its
Viscowax™ oxidized polyethylene (OPE) waxes in all
food-contact plastic products. Applications of Viscowax™ OPE
waxes include use as additives in plastics processing, and they are
already approved for certain food-contact uses in several
countries. The pending authorisation from EFSA will allow
Innospec's OPE waxes to be used in all plastic products
intended for food contact throughout the EU.
The development follows submission to EFSA of a favourable toxicity screening study for OPE waxes organised out by the European Wax Federation's Synthetic Waxes Task Force. Data from that study "was the last missing information" to obtain broad approval for OPE waxes in food-contact plastic applications in the EU, said Winfried Hommel, Viscowax™ Application Engineer at Innospec Leuna
"We have just substantially increased our capacity for producing Viscowax™ OPE products, so we are very pleased with this important development," said Samantha Gardner, Marketing Manager for Innospec Active Chemicals. "The Viscowax™ range already has a broad range of applications, and this approval will give us the opportunity to further expand into fast-growing markets targeting the food industry."
MAY 2008 - INNOSPEC IS A HIT AT IN-COSMETICS
Innospec's Active Chemicals business made a big impact with
current and prospective customers alike at In-Cosmetics, the
leading global business event for the personal care ingredients
industry, which took place last month in Amsterdam. Personal Care
is one of five core markets for Active Chemicals, and the event
gave Innospec the chance to underscore its commitment to the sector
and its positive growth prospects, said Samantha Gardner, Marketing
Manager for Active Chemicals.
It was the first time ever the company showed off its new product
locator guide, featuring the more than 100 offerings in the Active
Chemicals portfolio, including emollients, humectants, solvents,
solubilizers, dispersants, biodegradable chelants, "mini
sponges", rheology modifiers and fragrances for the cosmetics
and personal care markets. The locator helps customers by providing
more information and support for their formulation needs.
Customers were also excited to learn about the start-up of European
production of FINSOLV® benzoate ester emollients at a new
multipurpose specialty chemicals plant at Ellesmere Port.
FINSOLV® esters are state-of-the art emollients that have low
toxicity, impart a talc-like feel and are excellent solvents for
many cosmetic actives. Visitors to Innospec's stand got the
chance to sample a luxurious velvet body cream featuring the unique
after-feel of FINSOLV® TN emollients.
MAY 2008 - REGULATORY TRENDS BOOST INNOSPEC
CHELANT
Regulatory pressures in the chelants market are providing a boost
for green alternatives, including Innospec's Enviomet™
EDDS range, according to Nick Dixon, Product and Technical Manager
for Innospec Active Chemicals. Dixon told an international meeting
of experts in Florida last month that traditional chelants such as
EDTA and DTPA are under regulatory threat because of their poor
biodegradability, prompting a switch to greener, biodegradable
alternatives.
Chelants are used to bind metal ions and prevent undesirable
reactions in such applications as cleaning, pulp and paper, and
personal care products. Roughly 80% of the global chelant market
faces regulatory issues, particularly in Europe and the US, Dixon
told delegates at the SODEOPEC (Soaps, Detergents, Oleochemicals
and Personal Care) conference in Orlando, organized by the
American Oil Chemists Society. "Pressures on non-biodegradable
chelants are increasing, and we believe this will soon force a
reduction in their usage," Dixon said.
Enviomet™ is the best alternative to EDTA, thanks to its
performance benefits, non-toxicity; and, most importantly, its
biodegradability, Dixon said. Enviomet™ was the winner of the
UK Green Chemical Technology Award 2003 from the Crystal Faraday
Partnership. "By bringing these kinds of solutions to the
market, we believe this can substantially increase the market share
of green chelants by 2016," he said.
APRIL 2008 - INNOSPEC'S 2008 PROXY STATEMENT AND
2007 ANNUAL REPORT NOW AVAILABLE
Innospec's 2008 Proxy Statement regarding our
Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in New York on May 6,
2008 and our Annual Report on Form 10-K are available by clicking
on the following links:
APRIL 2008 - INNOSPEC RAISES DIVIDEND, BOOSTS SHARE
BUYBACK
Innospec's Board of Directors has authorized an 11% increase in
the company's semiannual dividend, to $0.05/share, and a
further repurchase of shares, up to a total value of $8 million.
"The moves reflect the company's excellent financial
performance in 2007, and its commitment to use strong cash flow to
build shareholder value", said Paul Jennings, Innospec's
President and CEO.
The company had "a highly successful and profitable year"
in 2007, Jennings said. Overall revenues were $602.4 million, up
13% from 2006, and net income more than doubled, to $29.5 million
($1.19/diluted share). Net cash flow provided by operating
activities was $47.9 million, a 32% increase on the previous year.
The company repurchased a total of 752,000 shares for the full
year, for a total of $18.3 million.
Innospec stock continues to be attractive to investors due to its
strong generation of cash flow, and the company intends to keep the
possibility of further buybacks under review during the year,
Jennings said. The company is also continuing to expand its
shareholder base-it recently secured its first UK-based
institutional investor.
APRIL 2008 - WIDNES SITE GETS MAJOR SAFETY
HONOR
Innospec's Widnes, UK facility has achieved one of the
country's top safety, health and environmental performance
honours--a Gold Award from the Royal Society for the Prevention of
Accidents (RoSPA). It is the second consecutive year that Widnes
will receive the award, which recognizes sustained performance in
reducing accidents and ill-health at work and the ability of the
site's management system to bring about continual improvement.
"Everyone on site has contributed to the winning of this award
by participating in health and safety initiatives and contributing
to the continual improvement of safe working practices across all
areas of our operations," said Jim Williams, Site and
Operations Director for Widnes. "It again demonstrates the
commitment of Innospec Widnes staff and contractors in ensuring
that we are safe at work and confirming to the local community that
we are good neighbours."
Several other Innospec sites have recently been recognised for
their safety achievements. The company's Ellesmere Port, UK
site recently received a RoSPA Gold Medal, which is awarded after
achieving Gold Awards for five consecutive years. Innospec has now
operated for over 4 million man hours without a reportable
lost-time accident, including 1 million man hours at Ellesmere
Port.
MARCH 2008 - ELLESMERE PORT ACHIEVES MAJOR SAFETY
MILESTONE
Innospec's Ellesmere
Port site has just passed a major safety milestone-1 million man
hours without a reportable lost-time accident. It is the first site
to achieve the 1 million hours target, and will be presented with a
Gold Award certificate from Innospec's Performance Delivery
Executive-the company's top safety honour.
Ellesmere Port has already been recognized by the Royal Society for
the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) for its safety achievements. It
was one of only nine U.K. chemical sites to receive a 2007 RoSPA
Gold Medal, one of the UK's most prestigious safety, health and
environmental performance awards. It qualified by winning RoSPA
Gold Certificates for five consecutive years, and by demonstrating
continuous improvements and progress each year.
The site also recently achieved ISO 14001 accreditation.
"Gaining this International Standard is a fantastic
achievement and is the result of many months of hard work by all
staff," said Ellesmere Port site director Adin Clarke.
"It has already led to a greater awareness amongst staff,
increased recycling, reduction in energy and water consumption and
waste generation."
MARCH 2008 - INNOSPEC MAKES A SPLASH AT IN-COSMETICS

Innospec's Active Chemicals business will be
making a big splash at In-Cosmetics, the leading global business
event for the personal care ingredients industry, which takes place
next month in Amsterdam.
The biggest news is the start-up of European production of
FINSOLV® benzoate ester emollients at a new multipurpose
specialty chemicals plant at Ellesmere Port. FINSOLV® esters
are state-of-the art emollients that have low toxicity, impart a
talc-like feel and are excellent solvents for many cosmetic
"actives", including sunscreens, anti-perspirant salts
and fragrances.
Previously, FINSOLV® was manufactured only at Innospec's
plant at Spencer, NC. The new plant will save freight costs and
shorten the supply chain, enabling the company to more efficiently
serve personal care products customers outside the U.S., said Paul
Jennings, Innospec's President and CEO.
Also being spotlighted are Innospec's CONDICARE®
conditioners for hair and skin applications; PUREACT SM2030®,
an ultra-mild surfactant ideally suited for use in personal care
formulations including baby products, shower gels and body washes;
NATRLQUEST E30®, a readily biodegradable chelant; and
ACTIVSOFT MS100®, a unique crosslinked, superabsorbing polymer
that instantly swells in the presence of water to form transparent
beads that have the appearance of "mini-sponges" in a
formulation.
MARCH 2008 - 'A HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL YEAR' IN 2007
Innospec recently reported strong sales and profits growth for
fourth-quarter and full-year 2007. Total revenues for the fourth
quarter were $172.7 million, a 19% increase from the same period
last year, and net income was $11.1 million ($0.45 per diluted
share), compared with a net loss of $(0.7) million in
fourth-quarter 2006.
The fourth-quarter results primarily reflect a good performance in
Fuel Specialties, said Paul Jennings, Innospec's President and
CEO. "Octane Additives also rebounded impressively from its
third-quarter performance, due to an expected shift in the timing
of its shipments. While Active Chemicals' results for the
quarter were somewhat disappointing, our strategic repositioning of
this division late in the year has positioned it well to deliver
improved results in 2008."
Overall revenues for 2007 were $602.4 million, up 13% from the
previous year, and net income more than doubled, to $29.5 million.
"Overall, 2007 was a highly successful and profitable year for
Innospec," Jennings said. "We drove substantial sales
growth, maintained our margins at attractive levels despite
significant cost pressures in our core businesses and significantly
increased our investments in capital spending and R&D. We
expect Fuel Specialties to have another solid year in 2008, and
Active Chemicals should begin building some momentum."
FEBRUARY 2008 - INNOSPEC JOINS NASDAQ's 'BLUE
CHIP' LIST
Innospec stock recently got an important upgrade, when it was
transferred from The NASDAQ Global Market to The NASDAQ Global
Select Market. The Global Select Market has highest listing
standards of any market in the world based on financial and
liquidity requirements, and represents the NASDAQ exchange's
listing of "blue-chip" stocks.
"Qualifying to list IOSP shares on The NASDAQ Global Select
Market sends a powerful message to our investors and potential
investors," said Paul Jennings, Innospec's President and
CEO. "It reflects, in part, the more than doubling in
Innospec's share price and market capitalization over the last
two years, which in turn is due to the excellent financial
performance of our ongoing growth businesses over that
timeframe."
Companies qualify for the Global Select Market based on measures
including market value, liquidity and earnings. Inclusion in The
Global Select Market "is a mark of achievement and stature for
qualified companies," NASDAQ says. Global Select Market
companies also receive an enhanced package of services from NASDAQ
covering communications, visibility, management and board
support.
FEBRUARY 2008 - INNOSPEC SIGNS MAJOR BIODIESEL
DEAL
A new range of Innospec additives are helping to improve the
performance of the world's most recognized brand of biodiesel.
World Energy Alternatives, a leading producer of renewable fuels
and the biggest U.S. biodiesel supplier, has announced a three-year
agreement to use Innospec's BIOSTABLE™ stabilizers in its
biodiesel products worldwide.
Biodiesel is a clean-burning alternative fuel made from renewable
resources such as soybeans. It is produced to strict industry and
government specifications, and the BIOSTABLE™ additives will
ensure that World Energy's biodiesel products meet several key
stability performance criteria.
The companies will also work together to co-develop other
additives, said Patrick Williams, President of Innospec Fuel
Specialties. "We can make a significant contribution to the
growth of biodiesel by developing performance fuel additives such
as cold-flow improvers and pour-point depressants to broaden its
international appeal," Williams said.
"By partnering with a technology innovator such as Innospec,
we are able to continually advance the quality of our products
while expanding their application throughout our global
market," said Gene Gebolys, President and CEO of World
Energy.
FEBRUARY 2008 - INNOSPEC LENDS SUPPORT TO NATIONALSKILLS
ACADEMY
Innospec is among a group of leading UK process industry employers
lending support to the National Skills Academy Process Industries
(NSAPI), which was officially launched late last month by Skills
Minister David Lammy. In all, the companies have contributed more
than $2 million to the Academy for the purpose of developing an
improved "gold standard" training benchmark and
infrastructure within the UK's process industries.
Growth in the process industries is currently constrained by a lack
of suitably qualified employees. The new academy is designed to
tackle sector-specific skills shortages by standardising training
across the industry and uniting a team of experts and employers to
share best practices and create world-class learning environments.
It is anticipated that at least 16,000 learners will undertake
training via the skills academy over the next five years.
The academy, based at Teesside, will act as a "hub" for a
network of regional training "spokes." Those are expected
to include TTE Training Ltd. at Ellesmere Port, which was
originally set up as a joint venture of Innospec, ICI, and Shell
with the aim of providing specialist training at a purpose-built
site.
JANUARY 2008 - INNOSPEC RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS SAFETY AWARD
Innospec's Ellesmere Port, UK facility was recently honoured with one of the UK's most prestigious safety, health and environmental performance awards - a Gold Medal from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA). Innospec was one of only nine chemical companies in the UK to receive a Gold Medal.
Innospec began participating in the RoSPA program in 1998, when the site faced a number of serious safety and environmental challenges. "The dramatic improvement in performance over the last 10 years is a great example of what we can achieve when everyone at Innospec is moving forward in one direction," said Paul Jennings, Innospec's President and CEO. "Winning this Gold Medal from RoSPA sends a clear message about how important safety and training is to Innospec."
Several other Innospec sites have recently been recognised for making significant safety improvements. The company's Widnes, UK site recently achieved its first RoSPA certificate, while in the US, the North Carolina Department of Labor honoured Innospec's facilities at High Point and Spencer for outstanding on-the-job safety achievements during 2006 at its biannual safety awards banquet.
JANUARY 2008 - INNOSPEC WEBSITE
Innospec has dramatically enhanced its online presence with a completely redesigned website that went live on January 7. The site is designed to reflect the company's new business structure, and features better navigation tools, greater functionality and improved search facilities, making it easier for customers, investors, the media and other stakeholders to use.
"The redesign marks another important step forward for Innospec," said Paul Jennings, the company's President and CEO. "Our business today is focused on global markets and we serve our customers through regional teams that address their specific needs. Our new site takes this theme and makes it easier for people to navigate around our business to find the information they require."
Customers can search by market, region, product or subject. As before, certain material will only be made available to customers with privileged access via their secure password. The investor community gets a wider range of material for tracking financial progress, including a live share price during market trading and stock performance charts. Meanwhile, a new Media Centre section gives journalists access to press releases, company brochures, logos and photographs of key officers and directors.
JANUARY 2008 - TWO NEW DIRECTORS JOIN INNOSPEC'S
BOARD
Innospec welcomed two new members to its Board of Directors at the
beginning of January -Peter Fearn and Joachim Roeser. Both have
extensive experience in the chemical industry and managing
international businesses, said Innospec chairman Bob Bew. "We
believe they will both bring valuable new perspectives to the
Board's deliberations," Bew said.
Mr. Fearn, 54, is Executive Chairman of VetXX A/S, a Danish animal health care company, and President of Dipharma Srl, an Italian chemical company that supplies the pharma industry. He also owns SKMP Ltd., a consulting firm specialising in mergers and acquisitions. He will join the Innospec board's Compensation Committee.
Mr. Roeser, 53, is CEO of Amber Chemicals, a specialty silicone producer owned by Caledonia Investments. He is a German and has lived and worked in Belgium, France, Germany, and the UK. He will become a member of the Innospec board's Nominating and Governance Committee.
Charles M. Hale and Samuel A. Haubold recently announced their intention to retire from the Innospec Board after the next annual shareholders meeting on May 6, 2008. Following these changes, the size of Innospec's Board will remain at seven.