Infineum Worldwide Joint Venture Open for Business

Infineum, the new petroleum additives enterprise, a joint venture between Exxon Chemical, Shell International Chemicals Ltd and Shell Chemical Company, unveiled its new corporate identity and became fully operational on 1 January 1999.

Infineum has approximately 2,000 employees worldwide; R&D facilities in the UK, US, Japan and Singapore; manufacturing plants in 19 countries; and sales and marketing representation in a further fifty. The new enterprise comprises three specific business units - Crankcase Lubricant Additives, Fuel Additives and Speciality Lubricant additives.

"Infineum brings together people, technologies and products to offer customers a broader, more flexible product range, supported by worldwide research and development facilities," said Tony Gaskell, president and chief executive officer of Infineum, "and the new corporate identity was designed to reflect these benefits," he continued.

The new logo comprises the company name and a graphic displaying curves designed to create a symbolic ripple effect. The interlocking 'ripples' represent the fusion of people and technologies from two leading additives businesses into a new and exciting global additives enterprise. They also highlight the close partnerships which Infineum will forge with its customers as part of its key aim to lead the way in total customer satisfaction.

"We aim to ensure that Infineum's customers enjoy only the very best of Paramins and Shell Additives and, as such, will recognise Infineum as a vital, stimulating and independent new force within the additives market," said Gaskell.

Note to Journalists:

Exxon Chemical Company is a division of Exxon Corporation. Shell Petroleum Company Limited and Shell Chemical Company are members of the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of companies.

Petroleum additives include both lubricant and fuel additives. Lubricant additives are used primarily in the lubrication of automative, marine and heavy duty diesel engines where they help to reduce engine wear, disperse sludge and minimise troublesome deposits. Fuel additives also improve the operation of gasoline and diesel engines. Several speciality additives provide improved properties to automatic transmission fluids, gear oils and industrial oils.

Customers are oil companies and other lubricant marketers which use petroleum additives to produce finished lubricants and fuels.

For further information:

Worldwide
Tel: +44 1235 549509; Fax: +44 1235 549511
Americas
Tel: +1 908 474 0100; Fax: +1 908 474 6117
Asia Pacific
Tel: +65 6899 1661; Fax: +65 6895 6900
Europe, Africa and Middle East
Tel: +44 1235 549509; Fax: +44 1235 549511