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Lonza opens Chinese plant for antimicrobial products
F O C US this year. Sasol O&S’s turnaround and restructuring is well on track and has already positioned the business to better respond to the economic downturn, the company says. Sasol Ltd Financial Results 2008-2009, 14 Sep 2009 (Sasol Ltd, 1 Sturdee Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg 2196, South Africa, tel: +27 11 441 3218, fax: +27 11 441 3189, website: http://www.sasol.com)
Strong 1H 2009 results for Reckitt Benckiser For its 1H 2009 (period ends 30 Jun 2009), Reckitt Benckiser plc has reported net revenue of £3783 M (£3074 M for its 1H 2008), and operating profit of £819 M (£600 M). The Household and Health & Personal Care segment accounted for sales of £3397 M (£2842 M) and operating profit of £645 M (£538 M). Within this segment, Fabric Care accounted for sales of £807 M (£720 M), Surface Care £635 M (£532 M), Dishwashing £440 M (£370 M), Home Care £509 M (£422 M), and Health & Personal Care £978 M (£768 M). For its 2Q 2009, the company reported net revenue of £1872 M (£1564 M for 2Q 2008), of which Household and Health & Personal Care accounted for £1658 M (£1434 M). Fabric Care 2Q sales were £401 M (£369 M), Surface Care £314 M (£264 M), Dishwashing £205 M (£184 M), Home Care £245 M (£205 M), and Health & Personal Care £473 M (£396 M). The company’s quarterly operating profit was £414 M (£325 M), of which Household and Health & Personal Care accounted for £313 M (£270 M). Looking at regional performances, Reckitt Benckiser reported 1H 2009 net revenue in Europe of £1782 M (£1606 M for its 1H 2008), or 47% of total revenue, and operating profit of £403 M (£362 M). Growth came largely from Dishwashing, Home Care and Health & Personal Care. The combined North America and Australia segment (27% of net revenue) reported 1H net revenue of £1008 M (£758 M) and operating profit of £169 M (£90 M). In Fabric Care, growth was boosted by such new initiatives as the launch of Spray ‘n Wash Bright & White, Resolve Deep Clean Powder and concentrated formulations for Woolite. Surface Care increased largely as a result of increased consumption of Lysol spray and NOVEMBER 2009
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disinfectant wipes, in part due to the outbreak of the H1N1 ‘flu virus. Dishwashing was driven by the launch of Quantum in the US. The Developing Markets segment (19% of net revenue) posted net revenue of £739 M (£573 M) and operating profit of £98 M (£72 M). Growth was evident across all regions and driven particularly by Fabric Care, Surface Care and Health & Personal Care. In Fabric Care, increased marketing investment and new initiatives helped generate a strong performance for Vanish. Surface Care increased largely as a result of growth in Harpic, and Veja in Brazil. In Health & Personal Care, additional marketing investment helped drive an excellent result for the Dettol personal care range. Reckitt Benckiser has announced a number of new product initiatives for the second half of 2009. Among these are the roll-out of Vanish Oxi Action Intelligence Plus Gel in-wash gel stain removers, which are claimed to remove even the toughest greasy stains from laundry, and Woolite Complete, which both cleans and protects against fabric damage and fading. It is also launching the Dettol brand through the pharmacy channel in selected European markets and introducing the Dettol Naturals personal wash range in selected developing markets. Reckitt Benckiser Results 1H 2009, 29 Jul 2009, 35,10,11 (Reckitt Benckiser plc, 103-105 Bath Road, Slough, SL1 3UH, UK, tel: +44 1753 217800, fax: +44 1753 217899, website: http://www.reckittbenckiser.com)
COMPANY NEWS Unilever to end manufacturing in the Czech Republic Anglo-Dutch food, home and personal care goods producer Unilever will cease its manufacturing in the Czech Republic by 1H 2010. It will close its sole Czech plant PTZ Nelahozeves and dismiss all 634 employees. Unilever has invested more than CEK 5 bn in this plant since 1995. The company intends to move manufacturing operations from the Czech Republic to Poland and Romania. It will continue to sell its
products in the Czech Republic via its Prague-based subsidiary Unilever CR. Unilever supplies the Czech market mainly with personal care products of the brands Dove, Sunsilk, Rexona, Axe, Signal, Timotei and Lux. The company’s net profit decreased to €758 M in 2Q 2009, a decline of 17% compared to 2Q 2008. As with other companies in this sector worldwide, Unilever is facing the effects of the global economic crisis. Hospodarske Noviny, 17 Sep 2009, 53 (181), 1,17 (in Czech)
Lonza opens Chinese plant for antimicrobial products Lonza has opened a 27,000 tonnes/y antimicrobial formulations plant in Nanjing, China at a cost of SFR 14 M (€9.2 M). In addition to formulations it is also capable of producing quaternary compounds. It will offer more than 1000 formulations of microbial control products as well as a custom manufacturing service. The products are used in a variety of applications including wood preservation and cleaning products. Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 14 Sep 2009, (478), 7 (in French)
SVP Industries to set up chemical manufacturing facility SVP Industries has announced plans to construct a chemical plant at Thandya, Mysooru, Karnataka, India with an investment of Rup 322 M. The production of detergent powder, liquid blue and powder blue will be carried out at the plant, which has total production capacity of 1000 tonnes/month. Chemical Engineering World, 30 Jun 2009, 44 (6), 79
GCPL on the acquisition trail Indian hair colorants and soaps company Godrej Consumer Products Ltd (GCPL) is looking for acquisitions in Latin America, the Middle East and China in its bid to raise the proportion of foreign sales in its turnover to 50% from the current 23%. The firm is also developing several products as part of plans to enter the premium hair colour and shampoo sectors. SPC, Soap, Perfumery and Cosmetics, Sep 2009, 82 (9), 5
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Strong 1H 2009 results for Reckitt Benckiser For its 1H 2009 (period ends 30 Jun 2009), Reckitt Benckiser plc has reported net revenue of £3783 M (£3074 M for its 1H 2008), and operating profit of £819 M (£600 M). The Household and Health & Personal Care segment accounted for sales of £3397 M (£2842 M) and operating profit of £645 M (£538 M). Within this segment, Fabric Care accounted for sales of £807 M (£720 M), Surface Care £635 M (£532 M), Dishwashing £440 M (£370 M), Home Care £509 M (£422 M), and Health & Personal Care £978 M (£768 M). For its 2Q 2009, the company reported net revenue of £1872 M (£1564 M for 2Q 2008), of which Household and Health & Personal Care accounted for £1658 M (£1434 M). Fabric Care 2Q sales were £401 M (£369 M), Surface Care £314 M (£264 M), Dishwashing £205 M (£184 M), Home Care £245 M (£205 M), and Health & Personal Care £473 M (£396 M). The company’s quarterly operating profit was £414 M (£325 M), of which Household and Health & Personal Care accounted for £313 M (£270 M). Looking at regional performances, Reckitt Benckiser reported 1H 2009 net revenue in Europe of £1782 M (£1606 M for its 1H 2008), or 47% of total revenue, and operating profit of £403 M (£362 M). Growth came largely from Dishwashing, Home Care and Health & Personal Care. The combined North America and Australia segment (27% of net revenue) reported 1H net revenue of £1008 M (£758 M) and operating profit of £169 M (£90 M). In Fabric Care, growth was boosted by such new initiatives as the launch of Spray ‘n Wash Bright & White, Resolve Deep Clean Powder and concentrated formulations for Woolite. Surface Care increased largely as a result of increased consumption of Lysol spray and NOVEMBER 2009
O N
S U R FAC TA N T S
disinfectant wipes, in part due to the outbreak of the H1N1 ‘flu virus. Dishwashing was driven by the launch of Quantum in the US. The Developing Markets segment (19% of net revenue) posted net revenue of £739 M (£573 M) and operating profit of £98 M (£72 M). Growth was evident across all regions and driven particularly by Fabric Care, Surface Care and Health & Personal Care. In Fabric Care, increased marketing investment and new initiatives helped generate a strong performance for Vanish. Surface Care increased largely as a result of growth in Harpic, and Veja in Brazil. In Health & Personal Care, additional marketing investment helped drive an excellent result for the Dettol personal care range. Reckitt Benckiser has announced a number of new product initiatives for the second half of 2009. Among these are the roll-out of Vanish Oxi Action Intelligence Plus Gel in-wash gel stain removers, which are claimed to remove even the toughest greasy stains from laundry, and Woolite Complete, which both cleans and protects against fabric damage and fading. It is also launching the Dettol brand through the pharmacy channel in selected European markets and introducing the Dettol Naturals personal wash range in selected developing markets. Reckitt Benckiser Results 1H 2009, 29 Jul 2009, 35,10,11 (Reckitt Benckiser plc, 103-105 Bath Road, Slough, SL1 3UH, UK, tel: +44 1753 217800, fax: +44 1753 217899, website: http://www.reckittbenckiser.com)
COMPANY NEWS Unilever to end manufacturing in the Czech Republic Anglo-Dutch food, home and personal care goods producer Unilever will cease its manufacturing in the Czech Republic by 1H 2010. It will close its sole Czech plant PTZ Nelahozeves and dismiss all 634 employees. Unilever has invested more than CEK 5 bn in this plant since 1995. The company intends to move manufacturing operations from the Czech Republic to Poland and Romania. It will continue to sell its
products in the Czech Republic via its Prague-based subsidiary Unilever CR. Unilever supplies the Czech market mainly with personal care products of the brands Dove, Sunsilk, Rexona, Axe, Signal, Timotei and Lux. The company’s net profit decreased to €758 M in 2Q 2009, a decline of 17% compared to 2Q 2008. As with other companies in this sector worldwide, Unilever is facing the effects of the global economic crisis. Hospodarske Noviny, 17 Sep 2009, 53 (181), 1,17 (in Czech)
Lonza opens Chinese plant for antimicrobial products Lonza has opened a 27,000 tonnes/y antimicrobial formulations plant in Nanjing, China at a cost of SFR 14 M (€9.2 M). In addition to formulations it is also capable of producing quaternary compounds. It will offer more than 1000 formulations of microbial control products as well as a custom manufacturing service. The products are used in a variety of applications including wood preservation and cleaning products. Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 14 Sep 2009, (478), 7 (in French)
SVP Industries to set up chemical manufacturing facility SVP Industries has announced plans to construct a chemical plant at Thandya, Mysooru, Karnataka, India with an investment of Rup 322 M. The production of detergent powder, liquid blue and powder blue will be carried out at the plant, which has total production capacity of 1000 tonnes/month. Chemical Engineering World, 30 Jun 2009, 44 (6), 79
GCPL on the acquisition trail Indian hair colorants and soaps company Godrej Consumer Products Ltd (GCPL) is looking for acquisitions in Latin America, the Middle East and China in its bid to raise the proportion of foreign sales in its turnover to 50% from the current 23%. The firm is also developing several products as part of plans to enter the premium hair colour and shampoo sectors. SPC, Soap, Perfumery and Cosmetics, Sep 2009, 82 (9), 5
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