(revenues of Rup 865.2 M fromsoaps, Rup 351.7 M from haircolours, Rup 67.5 M from toiletriesand Rup 8.5 M from liquid detergentsbusinesses in 1Q 2004-2005).

Business Line, 23 Jul 2005, 12 (203), 5

COMPANYNEWS

EU, shareholders approve P&G’spurchase of Gillette

European Union antitrust regulatorshave approved Procter & Gamble’sproposed $57 bn US takeover ofGillette Co, after P&G agreed to shedits SpinBrush battery toothbrushbusiness. EU regulators investigatedthe merger carefully, extending theiroriginal investigation deadline by 2weeks, to see if it would causeanticompetitive “conglomerateeffects” because of the large numberof brands the new company wouldcontrol. However, they concluded thateven after the transaction the partieswould not be in a position to imposeconditions on retailers to thedetriment of the customer.Shareholders of both companieshave also overwhelmingly backed themerger, with 96% of shares votedbeing in favour. The EU approvalbrings Cincinnati-based P&G onestep closer to creating the world’sbiggest consumer products company,but it still needs regulatory approvalfrom the US Federal TradeCommission to complete the deal.P&G hopes to complete the deal inthe fall. It would be the largestacquisition in P&G’s 167-year history.

Press release from: The Procter & Gamble Co, 1 or 2,Procter & Gamble Plaza, Cincinnati, OH 45201, USA.Tel: +1 513 983 1100. Website: http://www.pg.com(15 Jul 2005)

Omnova Solutions’ PerformanceChemicals business expands Asia-Pacific presence

Omnova Solutions announced that itsPerformance Chemicals business hasestablished Omnova PerformanceChemicals Trading (Shanghai) Co Ltd(Omnova Asia) to enhance andfurther expand the company’spresence in the Asia-Pacific region.Omnova Asia will extend the sales

and servicing of Omnova’s emulsionpolymer and speciality chemicalstechnology, while building on itsbusiness relationships throughout theregion. Headed by Sherry Xia, newlyappointed Asia-Pacific BusinessManager for Performance Chemicals,Omnova Asia will focus on promotingand marketing speciality products,including PolyFox fluorosurfactants,and emulsion polymers fornonwovens, tapes and adhesivesapplications. In addition, OmnovaAsia will strengthen the company’ssupply and distribution capabilities inthe region through select partnershipsand potential joint ventures. OmnovaSolutions Inc is a technology-basedcompany with 2004 sales of $746 Mand a current workforce of 1850employees worldwide.

Press release from: Omnova Solutions Inc, 175, GhentRoad, Fairlawn, OH 44333, USA, Tel: +1 330 869 4200,Website: http://www.omnova.com (19 Jul 2005)

Univar expands in Poland

The distributor Mapol, which servesthe enzymes, detergent, brewing,food and beverage markets inPoland, has been acquired by Univarfor an undisclosed amount.

Chemical Week, 15 Jun 2005, 167 (20) (Website:http://www.chemweek.com)

HLL opens new plant in India

Hindustan Lever Ltd (HLL) hasinaugurated a modern detergentfacility in Solan, India. The company’sother plants in Northern India as wellas the new facility will help boostturnover by 25%/y. The new plant’soutput will include soap brands suchas Pears, Lux International, Lifebuoy,Hamam, Liril and Rexona as well asRim and Vim Bars. The company hascaptured about 50% market share inthe personal care products category.

HAPPI, Household & Personal Products Industry, Jul2005, 42 (7), 24

P&G Hygiene to hive off Indiandetergent facility

Procter & Gamble Hygiene andHealth Care Ltd plans to hive off itsdetergent manufacturing facility atMadideep in the Raisen district ofMadhya Pradesh (MP). Thedivestment will include transferringthe manufacturing business including

land, building, plant and machineryand other assets at Mandideep.Analysts opine that the company,which has a manufacturing facility atBaddi in Himachal Pradesh, mighttransfer the facility to P&G HomeProducts Ltd, a 100% subsidiary ofthe US-based Procter & Gamble Co.

Business Line, 8 Jul 2005, 12 (188), 1

Zenit focuses on industrial companies

Zenit (Caslav, Czech Republic) isaiming to supply industrial companiesas much as possible to protect itsown trademarks, such as Real,Solvina, Trimin, Hit and Lena. It isincreasing production for the retailchains Tesco, Macro, Metro, Kauflandand Delvita. About 10% of itsproduction is goods under externaltrademarks. Zenit exports about 30%of its production, to Slovakia amongother countries. In the CzechRepublic the company has about 130employees. Its products includesoaps, cleaning agents, car washingand polishing products and liquidfertilizers. The firm has a smallerplant in Gelnica, Slovakia, which has30 employees and produces powderwashing agents.

Ekonom, 23 Jun 2005, 49 (25), 50 (in Czech)

PQ Corp enters a new corporate era

In Feb 2005, PQ Corp was sold to JPMorgan Partners [Focus onSurfactants, Feb 2005]. The companyis now being operated to maximizeEBITDA and to increase sales with aneye to a profitable exit deal later. Thecompany produces silicates andzeolites for the detergent, pulp & paper,catalyst and water-treatment markets.

Chemical and Engineering News, 11 Jul 2005, 83(28), 19 (Website: http://www.cen-online.org)

Copebras celebrates its half centenary

Founded in 1955, phosphateproducer Copebras is celebrating its50th anniversary. The Braziliancompany manufactures and sells arange of finished fertilizers, andprovides the detergent sector withsodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) andthe animal feed industry withdicalcium phosphate.

Fertilizer International, May/Jun 2005, (406), 85-86,88-89

SEPTEMBER 2005 7

F O C U S O N S U R F A C T A N T S