Press Release

Innovation Insight from Kraton Polymers at K’2004 Hall 8 Stand F32, Messe Düsseldorf, Germany
October 20 – 27, 2004

LONDON (July 29, 2004) – Kraton Polymers will give compounders, designers and product manufacturers an insight into its world-leading innovations in styrenic block copolymer (SBC) technology when they visit K’2004 in Düsseldorf this October.

Pioneered in the 1960s, Kraton polymers SBCs are used today by compounders and formulators to enhance the processing and finished performance of hundreds of applications. Automotive, packaging, personal hygiene, sports, toys and consumer durables are among the wide range of industries taking advantage of benefits such as transparency, colourability, impact and UV resistance, high and low temperature performance, ease of processing and overmoulding capabilities.

Roger Morgan, Vice-president Europe, Africa and Middle East, Kraton Polymers, said: “As the world leader in SBCs we are committed to bringing innovative developments to market and, in the last few years, we have achieved rapid growth in the number of new products and technology available to our customers. Thanks to close co-operation, we are ever-more aware of the needs of our customers. As a result, Kraton polymers are bringing advantages to more markets than ever before and offering a viable alternative to traditional materials.

“K’2004 is a valuable opportunity to reach a wide range of industries and potential customers, and to highlight the benefits our products can bring in helping them to deliver innovations for their sector.”

Meet Kraton Polymers in Hall 8 Stand F32 or visit www.Kraton.com for more information.

Kraton and the Kraton logo are trademarks owned by the Kraton Polymers Group of Companies.

Notes to Editors

Kraton Polymers is a premier, global specialty chemicals company and the world’s largest producer of styrenic block copolymers (“SBCs”), a family of products whose chemistry was pioneered by the Company over forty years ago. SBCs enhance the performance of applications including adhesives, sealants, asphalt and bitumen modification, footwear, packaging, compounding and personal hygiene products. The Company has the leading position in all of its core markets and is the only producer of SBCs with global manufacturing capability. The Company has manufacturing facilities in Belpre, Ohio, The Netherlands, Germany, France, Brazil, and Japan. The business has annual revenues in excess of $700 million.

About Kraton

Kraton Polymers LLC is a premier, global specialty chemicals company and is the world’s largest producer of styrenic block copolymers (“SBCs”), a family of products whose chemistry was pioneered by Kraton over forty years ago.  SBCs are highly-engineered synthetic elastomers, which enhance the performance of products by delivering a variety of attributes, including greater flexibility, resilience, strength, durability and processability.  Kraton polymers are used in a wide range of applications including road and roofing materials, numerous consumer products (e.g., diapers, tool handles and toothbrushes), tapes, labels, medical applications, packaging, automotive and footwear products.  Kraton has the leading position in nearly all of its core markets and is the only producer of SBCs with global manufacturing capability.  Its production facilities are located in the United States, The Netherlands, Germany, France, Brazil, and Japan.

Polymer Holdings LLC is the parent company of Kraton Polymers LLC and has no material assets other than its investment in Kraton Polymers LLC. 

Kraton, the Kraton logo and design are trademarks of Kraton Polymers LLC.

Forward Looking Statements

This presentation may include “forward-looking statements” which are statements other than statements of historical fact and are often characterized by the use of words such as “believes,” “expects,” “estimates,” “projects,” “may,” “will,” “intends,” “plans” or “anticipates,” or by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions. All forward-looking statements in this presentation are made based on management's current expectations and estimates, which involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. We assume no obligation to update such information.