HOUSTON, Dec. 18, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- KMG Chemicals, Inc. (Nasdaq:KMGB), a global provider of specialty chemicals in carefully focused markets, announced that Charles L. Mears was elected to the company's board of directors.
David Hatcher, chief executive officer of KMG, said, "On behalf of the board I welcome Chuck to the KMG team. He brings to the table extensive experience and broad industry contacts in the industrial chemicals sector. As per our stated strategy, our acquisitions program is currently concentrated in two primary chemical market segments -- agricultural and industrial. Chuck adds new strength in our ability to grow in the key industrial chemicals segment."
Mears, 62, retired in 2000 from Occidental Chemical Company (Oxy Chem), of Dallas, as executive vice president of the Chlor-Alkali business. This operation had annual sales of approximately $700 million. Prior to that, from 1991 until 1995, he was senior vice president of the Industrial Chemicals Division, with responsibility for the chlor-alkali business, in addition to the chrome and sodium silicate businesses for a portion of that time. Before that and since 1987, Mears held various other management positions within Oxy Chem.
Mears served in various capacities with Diamond Shamrock Corporation from 1965 until 1987. He began with the company in industrial chemical sales and advanced to vice president for the Industrial Chemicals Group, where he had full P&L responsibility. He graduated from Stephen F. Austin University in 1965 with a bachelor of science degree. Mears served on the boards of several international chlor-alkali and potassium carbonate joint ventures, as well as on boards of various industry associations, including the Chlorine Institute and the Chlorine Chemistry Counsel.
KMG Chemicals, Inc., through its subsidiaries, produces and distributes specialty chemicals to carefully focused markets. The company grows by acquiring and managing stable chemical product lines and businesses with established production processes. Its wholly owned subsidiary, KMG Bernuth, Inc. is a global provider of wood preservation chemicals to the lumber treatment industry and herbicides to the agricultural markets. For more information, visit the company's website at www.kmgchemicals.com.
The information in this news release includes certain forward-looking statements that are based upon assumptions that in the future may prove not to have been accurate and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, including statements as to the future performance of the company. Although the company believes that the expectations reflected in its forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations or any of its forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Factors that could cause results to differ include, but are not limited to, successful performance of internal plans, product development acceptance, the impact of competitive services and pricing and general economic risks and uncertainties.