MINNEAPOLIS, Oct 7, 2008 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX News Network) -- Northern Technologies International Corporation (Nasdaq:NTIC) today announced that it has filed a shelf registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which when declared effective by the SEC, will permit NTIC to issue up to $50 million worth of registered equity securities.

Under this customary type of shelf registration, once effective, NTIC will have the flexibility to issue common stock, warrants to purchase common stock, units comprised of common stock and warrants, or any combination of such securities, from time to time, in one or more separate offerings or other transactions, with the size, price and terms to be determined at the time of issuance.

The shelf registration statement will allow NTIC, subject to market conditions and NTIC's capital needs, to access the capital markets to fund its research and development efforts and to obtain additional working capital to further NTIC's bioplastics and other emerging businesses.

A registration statement on Form S-3 relating to these securities has been filed with the SEC, but has not yet become effective. These securities may not be sold, nor may offers to buy be accepted, prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities, in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state. Any offer of these securities will be made solely by means of the prospectus included in the registration statement and any prospectus supplement that may be issued with respect to such offering.

About Northern Technologies International Corporation

Northern Technologies International Corporation focuses on developing, marketing and selling proprietary environmentally responsible materials science based products and technical services directly and via a network of independent distributors, manufacturers' representatives and joint ventures in over 50 countries. NTIC manufactures, markets and sells primarily rust and corrosion inhibiting products and services for automotive, electronics, electrical, mechanical and military applications, sold under the brand names Zerust(r) and EXCOR(r). NTIC also offers direct, worldwide on-site technical support on rust and corrosion issues. NTIC's technical service representatives work directly with the end users of NTIC's products to analyze their specific needs and develop systems to meet their technical requirements. In addition to Zerust(r) products and services, NTIC's consolidated net sales in North America for the nine months ended May 31, 2008 included sales of NTIC's Natur-Tec(tm) products, which are part of NTIC's new biodegradable and compostable plastics line.

The Northern Technologies International Corporation logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=5481

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release that are not historical information are forward-looking statements as defined within the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements can be identified by words such as "will," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "would," or words of similar meaning and any other statements that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of NTIC's management and are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or implied. Such potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, in no particular order: NTIC's dependence on the success of its joint ventures and technical fees and dividend distributions that NTIC receives from them; NTIC's relationships with its joint ventures and its ability to maintain those relationships; the contraction of the U.S. automobile industry and its adverse effect on the demand for NTIC's Zerust(r) products, the failure of NTIC to realize any benefits, financial or otherwise, from its efforts to expand the application of its corrosion inhibiting technology into the oil and gas industry and its product line and the difficulties and risks associated with NTIC's international operations and its corporate joint ventures. More detailed information on these and additional factors which could affect NTIC's operating and financial results is described in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent annual report on Form 10-KSB and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-QSB. NTIC urges all interested parties to read these reports to gain a better understanding of the many business and other risks that the company faces. Additionally, NTIC undertakes no obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements, which may be made to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

This news release was distributed by GlobeNewswire, www.globenewswire.com

SOURCE: Northern Technologies International Corporation

Northern Technologies International Corporation
          Matthew Wolsfeld, Chief Financial Officer
          763-225-6600
          Fax: 763-225-6645
          mwolsfeld@ntic.com

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