Vertellus Specialties Announces Joint Venture in India With Vapi Products Industries

INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Vertellus Specialties (“Vertellus”
or “the Company”) and Vapi Products Industries Pvt. Ltd. have formed a joint
venture in India that will manufacture and distribute specialty chemicals
globally. The joint venture company is “Vapi Products Pvt. Ltd.” and is proposed
to be renamed Vertellus Specialty Materials (India) Pvt. Ltd. Financial terms of
the agreement were not disclosed.

Vertellus Specialties is the majority partner and will operate the venture’s
manufacturing facility in India. “This strategic joint venture will enable us to
maintain our market growth and meet increasing customer demands for sulfone
monomers and derivatives alongside other key products,” said Rich Preziotti,
President and CEO of Vertellus Specialties. “This joint venture is a great fit
for Vertellus and is a logical next step in our aggressive global acquisition
strategy. By combining the assets and production capacity of Vapi Products
Industries with the market reach and technology of Vertellus Specialties, we are
confident of a smooth and rapid integration process.”

“India is an important market for Vertellus,” continued Preziotti. “This move
will provide a catalyst for growth in India across the Company and we look
forward to serving local customers as we expand our presence in multiple
application fields including pyridine chemistry and pharmaceutical ingredients.”

Establishing a physical presence in India is the first step in enabling
Vertellus to work more closely with its existing customers in this important
growth market for pharmaceutical intermediates and many other products. This
will position the Company to leverage its global asset base to be a better
development and supply partner to local companies.

Sulfones monomers and derivatives are important intermediates for the production
of polysulfone and polyethersulfone high-performance polymers.

Vertellus manufactures sulfone monomers and derivatives at its facility in Seal
Sands UK and will continue to do so after the transaction. This expansion in
capacity will consolidate Vertellus’ existing position as a leading supplier of
sulfone monomers and derivatives and enable it to provide customers with a
combination of quality, capacity and security of supply that makes Vertellus an
ideal partner for future growth.

About Vertellus Specialties Inc.

Vertellus is a specialty chemicals company focused on the manufacture of
ingredients used in pharmaceuticals, personal care, nutrition, and agriculture
markets. Vertellus is the world’s largest producer of pyridine and picolines,
specialty pyridine derivatives, DEET, castor oil derivatives and systems, and
the world’s second largest producer of Vitamin B-3 and citrate polymer additives
and systems. Vertellus benefits from a technically advanced global manufacturing
base, has approximately 700 employees worldwide, and is headquartered in
Indianapolis, Indiana. For more information, visit www.vertellus.com.

Contact: Scott Smith
Tel: 317-248-6517
Website: www.vertellus.com

SOURCE Vertellus Specialties