Company Profile: AMCOL International Corporation  (ACO)

AMCOL International Corporation (formerly American Colloid Company) produces and markets a wide range of specialty minerals used for industrial, environmental and consumer-related applications. For the fiscal year ended 12/31/02, net sales rose 9% to $298.9 million. In 2002, the Company's revenues were derived 55% from minerals, 34% from environmental and 11% from transportation operations.

Minerals - AMCOL is a world-leading producer of bentonite, a non-metallic clay primarily composed of the mineral montmorillonite. The minerals segment is involved in mining, processing and distributing bentonite and products with similar applications to various industrial and consumer markets worldwide, including metalcasting, well drilling and cat litter.

Colin Stewart Minchem is a mineral processing company supplying intermediate products, industrial minerals, desiccants, inorganic chemicals and additives to a variety of sectors including laundry detergent, packaging, oil exploration and construction. The Company operates from its main site in Winsford, Cheshire U.K. with a second site located at Ellesmere Port in the U.K

Environmental - Serving the environmental lining, wastewater treatment, offshore services and heavy construction industries, the Corporation's environmental segment is positioning for long-term, high-growth potential by capitalizing on several key acquisitions it has made, along with expanding in global markets.

Transportation - AMCOL operates a long-haul trucking and freight brokerage business, primarily serving its own operations, as well as outside customers.

Nanocomposites (not reporting) - AMCOL's newest venture is in the field of nanocomposite technologies. The Corporation is positioned to capitalize on a proprietary technology that disperses nanoscale particles of chemically modified clays into plastic resins, improving strength, heat stability and barrier properties.

Health & Beauty Solutions, Inc., (HBS) was incorporated in 2001 to apply AMCOL's 75 years of polymer and mineral technology expertise to the Personal Care, Cosmetics, Pharmaceutical, and Nutraceutical markets. Through its leading technology platforms - Delivery Systems and Functional Rheology Products - HBS is able to provide solutions that improve both the functional performance and aesthetic characteristics of its customers' products.