4 JUNE 2008

F O C U S O N P O W D E R C O A T I N G S

will offset growth in agricultureand other markets outside theUS. DuPont puts science to workby creating sustainable solutionsessential to a better, safer,healthier life for peopleeverywhere. DuPont offers a widerange of innovative products andservices for markets includingagriculture and food; building andconstruction; communications; andtransportation.

Following tables are included:summary of 1Q 2008 worldwideand regional (US, Europe, AsiaPacific, Canada and LatinAmerica) sales performance;variances in 1Q 2008 earnings/share (EPS) versus 1Q 2007;business segment (Agriculture &Nutrition, Coatings & ColourTechnologies, Electronic &Communication Technologies,Performance Materials, andSafety & Protection); pre-taxoperating income; performancesegment sales and relatedpercentage variances for 1Q 2008versus 1Q 2007; pre-taxoperating income of businesssegments; consolidated incomestatements for three monthsended Mar 2007 and 2008;consolidated balance sheets dataas on 31 Dec 2007 and 31 Mar2008; condensed consolidatedstatements of cash flows;schedules of significant items;consolidated segment information;reconciliation of non-GAAPmeasures; calculation of segmentPTOI as a percent of segmentsales; reconciliation of non-GAAPMeasures; reconciliations of fixedcosts as a percent of sales;consolidated income statementsand larger offset by theassociated tax impact; andreconciliation of base income taxrate to effective income tax rate.

DuPont 1Q 2008 results, 22 Apr 2008,(DuPont, DuPont Building, 1007, MarketStreet, Wilmington, DE 19898, USA, website:http://www.dupont.com)

Akzo in furniture move

Akzo Nobel’s powder coatingdivision has introduced theInterpon F brand of powder

coating designed solely for thefurniture sector. The product lineoffers a step-change in terms oftechnical performance and coloursintended specifically for thefurniture market.

PPCJ, Polymers, Paint, Colour Journal, Apr2008, 198 (4523), 9

Keco’s loco for Teknix

Keco Coatings has purchasedfellow US firm Teknix PowderCoatings. The acquisition wouldfacilitate the entry of its Teflonand plasma coating technologyinto the southeast region. Keco isa coatings supplier to the printingsector, and is a licenced DuPontTeflon Industrial Applicator (LIA).

PPCJ, Polymers, Paint, Colour Journal, Apr2008, 198 (4523), 9

A black beauty: Evonik launchescoating powder

Evonik has introduced its blackVestosint polyamide 12 coatingpowder for electrostaticapplication methods. The productcan be applied using tribo andcorona spray guns. Vestosint issuited for coating flexible driveshafts for sunroofs and shadingsystems in the automotive sector.

PPCJ, Polymers, Paint, Colour Journal, Apr2008, 198 (4523), 36

Go green with Pyrisma

Merck has introduced its Pyrismapigment line, which ischaracterized by its deep blue-green colour and high chroma.Pyrisma T40-25, which creates anoble, silky colour, is thecompany’s first turquoise pigmentbased on mica specially designedto meet the requirements of thecoating sector.

PPCJ, Polymers, Paint, Colour Journal, Apr2008, 198 (4523), 36

Akzo Nobel China ready to soarafter year of transformation

Excluding ICI, Akzo Nobelachieved a 29% increase in netprofits in 2007, with sales up 2%

to €10.2 bn. In China, thecompany reported a 16%increase in sales to $1.031 bn.Completion of the ICI acquisitionhas made Akzo Nobel the globalleader in decorative coatings anda major player in China. In Jun2007, the company commissioneda polysulfides plant at Taixing inJiangsu province with the aim ofmeeting rapidly growing Chinesedemand. A new facility fordecorative coatings came intooperation at Langfang in northernChina. At Ningbo, construction ofa new chelates unit started inMar 2008 and Akzo Nobel is alsospending €250 M on a newethyleneamines project at thelocation. The two facilities arescheduled for start-up in 2009and 2010, respectively. AkzoNobel China has set itself atarget of achieving sales of $2 bnby 2012.

China Chemical Reporter, 6 Apr 2008, 19(10), 9

Speciality colorants: DIC Corp –focus on LCD colour filters, inkjetinks and photochromic glass

Dainippon Ink and Chemicals isstepping up its functionalpigments business, with a focuson LCD colour filters, inkjet inksand photochromic glass, inaddition to colour toners. Thecompany, which officially took thename DIC Corp on 1 Apr 2008,will also continue to develop newsolutions for its customers. DIChas come up with a distinctivegreen pigment made of abrominated zinc phthalocyaninethat is finding adoption in LCDs.The material sends out greenlight with improved colouringpower, helping to enhance NTSCcontrast ratios for LCDtelevisions. The pigment roundsout a line of unique primarycolour pigments from DIC. Newblue pigments are close to marketlaunch and reddiketopyrrolopyrrole pigments arecurrently in development. Thecompany is also working onseveral new products and