Kao Specialties Americas is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tokyo-based, Kao Corporation. Kao Corporation is a multinational conglomerate established in 1887 that develops, manufactures and markets personal care, industrial, information and chemical products. Originally a textile chemical company founded in 1945, High Point Chemical Corporation was acquired by Kao in 1987. In January 2000, High Point Chemical Corporation was restructured into Kao Specialties Americas. Kao Specialties is a manufacturer of chemicals used in a variety of goods and industries. The company is organized into four strategic business units, which includes aroma and oleo chemicals, toner binder, pulp and paper and surfactants. The toner binder unit develops polyester resins that are key ingredients used to manufacture toners for copiers, printers and fax machines. The pulp and paper unit develops chemicals that are formulated to facilitate the removal of ink during paper recycling, which improves the brightness of the paper. The surfactants unit manufactures non-ionic, anionic, cationic and amphoteric surfactants for agriculture, food, personal care, construction, mining, petroleum, plastic, household products and coatings industries. The aroma and oleo chemicals division develops aroma chemicals, natural alcohols, amines and other specialty chemicals from Kao that are imported for many industrial users. Kao Specialties America is based in High Point, N.C.