rose 3.3% to €600 M in 1Q 2014. Netprofits were up from €417 M to €452M. Analysts had expected sales of€3.95 bn, adjusted EBIT of €601 Mand net profits of €429 M. Henkel isstill expecting organic growth of 3-5%in 2014. The EBITDA margin shouldclimb to 15.5%.

Original Source: Handelsblatt Wirtschafts- undFinanzzeitung, 7 May 2014, (Website:http://www.handelsblatt.com) (in German) © Verlagsgruppe Handelsblatt GmbH & Co KG 2014

HUL’s 4Q profit rises 11% despitesluggish growth in volumes

In 4Q FY 2013-2014, HindustanUnilever (HUL)’s volume growth wasonly 3%, while the growth in thecorresponding year-ago period was4%. The decrease in volume growthwas driven by the sluggishness in theeconomy. In the last 6-7 quarters,volume growth in the company hasbeen restrained, as it has been forthe FMCG market in general.However, profits and sales in thequarter ending 31 Mar 2014exceeded the street estimates.Domestic sales increased by 9% toreach Rup 70 bn (c €870 M), whileprofit after tax was up by 11% to Rup8.72 bn. The company’s premiumcategories increased by double digits.There has also been demand growthin the skin-care category. In addition,there has been growth in the personalproducts (8.3%), soaps anddetergents (9.6%), food (12.7%) andbeverages (7.5%) categories. HULsays it will focus on rural distribution,innovation and digital mediapresence.

Original Source: Chemical Business (India), May2014, 28 (5), 61 (Website:http://www.magazinecommunications.com/) © Magazine Communications Pvt Ltd 2014

COMPANYNEWS

Henkel to acquire Spotless Group for€940 M

German consumer goods groupHenkel, which already owns the LeChat detergent brand, aims to expandits market presence in France, Italyand the Benelux states. It has signedan agreement to acquire all shares in

French rival Spotless Group from BCPartners for €940 M (including debt).The laundry aids, household care andinsecticide brands of Spotless (EauEcarlate, Grey, Dylon, Catch, Eparcyl,Vigor and K2R) are primarilyrepresented in France, but are alsosold in Italy, Spain, Benelux and theUK. Based in Neuilly-sur-Seine,Spotless generated a turnover withthese products of €280 M in 2013.The company achieved a profit ofaround €80 M and employs 470 staffin France. Subject to approval fromantitrust authorities, the deal isscheduled for completion in 1Q 2015at the latest. Henkel has allocated upto €4 bn for acquisitions. It has alsoannounced that it is acquiring threeprofessional hair care brands(SexyHair, Alterna and Kenra) fromTSG Consumer Products in the USAfor €270 M. The three companies hadcombined sales of €140 M in 2013.

Original Source: Henkel AG & Co KgaA, website:http://www.henkel.com (5 Jun 2014) © Henkel AG &Co KGaA 2014. Original Source: Neue ZuercherZeitung, 7 Jun 2014, 235 (130), 13 (Website:http://www.nzz.ch/) (in German) © Neue ZuercherZeitung AG 2014. Original Source: La Tribune, 5 Jun2014, (Website: http://www.latribune.fr) (in French) © LaTribune.fr 2014

BASF reduces size of Care Chemicalsdivision

BASF is reorganizing two of itsbusiness units, Home Care andIndustrial and Institutional Cleaningand Formulation Technologies, whichwill result in the loss of 120 jobsworldwide by mid-2015. The two unitsare part of the Care Chemicalsdivision. BASF believes the restructurewill allow it to adapt better to marketconditions and the needs of its clients.Despite the restructuring, BASF says itwill continue to invest in new businessfor the detergents and cleanersindustry. This will include enzymes.

Original Source: Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 10 Jun 2014,(679), (Website: http://www.industrie.com/chimie) (inFrench) © ETAI Information 2014

P2 Science & Ballestra team up toboost production of biomass-basedcosmetics ingredients

P2 Science Inc [see also Focus onSurfactants, Jul 2014] andengineering company DesmetBallestra SpA (DBI), have entered

into a partnership for thecommercialization of Ballestra’sreactor technology in P2 Science’sproprietary ozonolysis process for theproduction of flavour, fragrance andcosmetic ingredients. The clean,value-added conversion of biomass isa key route to renewable specialitychemicals. P2’s novel ozonolysistechnology for the conversion ofvegetable oils and terpenes hasdemonstrated lab-scale success,particularly in the fragrance ingredientmarket. At its New Haven lab, P2 hasalready installed and run a pilot-scalefalling film reactor from Ballestra. Thepartnership is initially focused onscaling up the technology to supportproduction and sale of commercialquantities of products within a 12-month timeframe. Longer term, thecompanies recognize many larger-scale markets beyond flavours andfragrances where the jointlydeveloped technology could beapplied, including surfactants andpolymer intermediates.

Original Source: P2 Science, 2014. Found onSpecialChem Cosmetics and Personal Care Innovationand Solutions, 19 May 2014, (Website:http://www.specialchem4cosmetics.com)

Clariant expands Tangerang capacity

Speciality chemicals major Clarianthas inaugurated enhancements to itsproduction capabilities and servicesupport for its customers in Indonesiaand South East Asia and Pacific(SEA&P) at an official ceremony at itsTangerang site. Clariant’s Industrial &Consumer Specialties Business Unitis doubling existing productioncapacity at the site and enlarging theapplication development laboratory toenhance support for customers in thepersonal care and industrial caresectors. The upgraded facilities havebeen awarded ISO 22716 CosmeticsGood Manufacturing Practice (GMP)certification. The company is alsoinvesting in new plants for master-batches and pigment preparations atTangerang. Clariant says theinvestments will better support thestrong growth in demand in local andoverseas markets. In 2013, SEA&Paccounted for 30% of Clariant’s salesin Asia and 7% of global sales.

Original Source: Clariant, website:http://www.clariant.com (12 Jun 2014) © Clariant2014

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