The Valence Group Further Expands Its Industry Expertise and Analytical Capabilities by Hiring Three Chemicals Strategy Consultants

LONDON, March 7, 2011 - Anton Ticktin, Samuel Aofolaju and Jane Smith will be joining The Valence
Group effective April 1, 2011.

(Logo: photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110118/NY30970LOGO )

Anton, Samuel and Jane are moving to Valence from Nexant, a leading
chemicals consulting firm, where they have focussed for many years
exclusively on M&A and strategy for the chemicals industries. Their skill set
adds a new dimension that is highly complementary to Valence's existing M&A
advisory practice, and collectively they bring over 35 years of experience in
the chemicals and materials industry, much of which involving M&A-related
assignments for both industrial and financial buyers and sellers.

Their due diligence and strategic consulting experience has included the
in-depth analysis and evaluation of competitive, commercial, technical and
strategic positioning; benchmarking and cost curve comparisons; strategic fit
and related synergy assessment; sector and market appraisals on both global
and regional bases; supply/demand forecasting; organic and external growth
opportunities; post-acquisition integration; asset and human resource
rationalisation; and analysis of competing buyers and their respective
bidding potential. The Nexant team has conducted more than 100 M&A support
and due diligence assignments in the last 10 years for a range of clients,
including Albemarle, BASF, Bayer Material Sciences, Carlyle, China Bluestar,
CVC Capital Partners, Dow Chemical, Permira, and PTT Thailand.

Whilst Valence's exclusive focus on M&A advice within the chemicals and
materials sector will remain unchanged, the firm's advisory clients will
benefit from an even broader and truly holistic approach to transactions.

Anton Ticktin has spent 13 years as a strategy consultant in the
chemicals and materials industry both at Nexant and its predecessor firm,
ChemSystems, most recently as Head of Nexant's strategy and finance/chemicals
practice. Prior to ChemSystems he worked for BASF for 7 years in various
business development roles including 3 years in Japan. He is a PhD Chemist
and an MBA.

Samuel Aofolaju has spent 9 years at Nexant/ChemSystems, focussing on the
chemicals sector and has a bachelors' degree in Chemical Engineering.

Jane Smith spent 6 years in the strategy and finance/chemicals practice
at Nexant, prior to which she worked for 3 years in the chemicals industry in
various roles. She has a Masters in Chemistry.

Peter Hall, Partner, said: "We are thrilled to be further expanding our
ranks with the addition of such a high calibre team as Anton, Samuel and
Jane. This move further bolsters our truly differentiated M&A advisory
service which is based on deep expertise in the chemicals and material
sector. Our clients will benefit from well-rounded, industry-based experience
gleaned from the investment banking, industrial and now strategic consulting
worlds. This step also expands Valence's global headcount to 27, making us,
by a very significant margin, the world's largest wholly-dedicated M&A team
serving the chemicals and related materials sectors."

Brendan Cummins, Senior Executive, added: "As a former CEO and user of
investment banking services, I have often been disappointed by the
superficial nature of the sector 'expertise' that the so-called industry
teams of many investment banks offer. As Valence's clients evaluate and
execute acquisitions and divestitures, they will benefit from our unique
ability to draw on the expertise of chemicals specialists with multiple
perspectives and years of complementary experience in our industry."

Anton Ticktin said: "My colleagues and I are excited to be joining an M&A
firm with such a clear and undiluted focus on the chemicals and materials
industry. We are very enthusiastic to have the opportunity to apply our
transaction-related experience in a new but related role, and to have made
the move from consulting to investment banking. No other investment banking
firm has such a differentiated position in the market and we look forward to
being part of what is clearly the centre of excellence for M&A in the
chemicals and materials sector."

About The Valence Group

The Valence Group is a specialist M&A boutique offering advisory services
exclusively to companies and investors in the chemicals, materials and
related sectors. The firm has developed broad and deep transactional
expertise: sell-side, buy-side, joint venture, private companies, public
offers, corporate carve-outs, LBOs and management buy-outs. The founders and
senior members of The Valence Group collectively have more than 130 years of
transactional experience gained both at major investment banks and within
chemical companies. The firm's offices are located in London, New York and
Shanghai.

www.valencegroup.com

Paul Lakind, Chief Administrative Officer, +1-212-847-7339, plakind at valencegroup.com