the group made efforts to adjustselling prices in response tofluctuations in prices of natural oilsand fats and petrochemicals.

Kao’s net sales from Japan rose toYen 925.3 bn in FY 2011 from Yen912.4 bn in FY 2010, while operatingincome increased to Yen 88.5 bn fromYen 85.2 bn. Net sales from Asia/Oceania rose to Yen 173.5 bn fromYen 152.3 bn, with operating incomeup to Yen 9.1 bn from Yen 6.6 bn. InNorth America net sales grew to Yen85.3 bn from Yen 80.3 bn, butoperating income fell to Yen 3.3 bnfrom Yen 5.6 bn. Operating incomealso fell in Europe, to Yen 7.7 bn fromYen 8.1 bn, while net sales rose toYen 117 bn from Yen 112.1 bn.

Original Source: Kao Corp, 1-14-10 NihonbashiKayabacho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-8210, Japan, tel: +813 3660 7111, website: http://www.kao.co.jp/en/ (24 Apr 2012) © Kao Corporation 2012

COMPANYNEWS

Solvay’s Clamadieu vows big earningsjump by 2016

Solvay’s new CEO Jean-PierreClamadieu aims to lift the firm’searnings by 45% to nearly $4 bn/ybefore taxes in 2016. Around two-thirdsof the earnings growth will begenerated by the firm’s existingbusiness units, led by consumerchemicals, speciality polymers andadvanced materials, which currentlyaccount for almost 50% of Rebitda.Solvay is to look to growth outsideEurope with S American activitiesbeing a priority. Other key markets areChina, Russia, Thailand, S Korea andIndia. Solvay will also implement acost-savings programme to boost itsbottom line; it has carried out a fullreview following the $4.8 bn acquisitionof Rhodia in Sep 2011 [Focus onSurfactants, Oct 2011] and expects tomake savings of around €400 M from2014 including €250 M from theoptimization of purchasing and logisticfunctions. The combined entity postedpro forma before-tax earnings of $2.7bn in 2011 on sales of $16.8 bn.

Elsewhere, Solvay inaugurated itsnew Research, Development andTechnology Centre at Savli, GujaratState, India. The RD&T Centre, which

will employ more than 200 researcherswhen fully operational, will focus itsefforts mainly on the development ofhigh-performance polymers, organicchemistry, nanocomposites and greenchemistry. The Centre will tap thecountry’s huge innovation talentpotential and carry out open innovationin collaboration with premier institutesin India. The Centre has alsoestablished three fellowships forresearch in sustainable chemistry,nanotechnology and polymer scienceat the Maharaja Sayajirao University inVadodara. The Solvay Group has beenactive in India since 2000. With 7production sites and about 900employees in the country, it principallymanufactures speciality polymers,engineering plastics, surfactants andspecial chemicals. The Groupgenerated €180 M of net sales in Indiain 2011 and has the ambition to doubleits sales in the country within the next 3years.

Original Source: Chemical and Engineering News, 30 Apr 2012, 90 (18), 18 (Website: http://www.cen-online.org) © American Chemical Society 2012.Original Source: Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 30 Apr 2012,(591), 1 (Website: http://www.industrie.com/chimie)(in French) © ETAI Information 2012. Original Source:Solvay SA, Rue de Prince Albert 33, 1050 Brussels,Belgium, tel: +32 3 509 6111, fax: +32 2 509 6617,website: http://www.solvay.com (25 May 2012) © Solvay 2012

The new structure at Cremer Oleo

Cremer Oleo has taken over theoperations of the Witten facilities fromthe Sasol Group [Focus on Surfactants,Mar 2012]. With the acquisition,Cremer Oleo has emerged as thelargest producer of oleochemicalspeciality esters in Europe.

Original Source: HPC, Household and Personal CareToday, Mar 2012, (1), 50 (Website: http://hpc-today.teknoscienze.com/) © Teknoscienze Srl 2012

BASF dissatisfied with Asian business

BASF has ambitious aims: it wants togrow 8%/y in Asia. But Asian businessis not showing the growth that might beexpected. The region is becomingmore vulnerable. The Indian market isfeeling the effects of the hold-up inreforms and the caution on the part ofinvestors caused by legislation. Asianbusiness is also being affected by theEuro crisis. BASF is looking for sales of€29 bn in Asia in 2020. Sales in theAsia/Pacific region were €14.4 bn in2011. BASF had sales of €3.5 bn in

Asia/Pacific in 1Q 2012, a fall of 5%,though this has to be seen against anexceptionally strong 1Q 2011.Operating profits fell 47% to €219 M. Itis also becoming more and moredifficult to implement new projects inChina. Projects are no longer wavedthrough. Companies are increasinglybeing subject to public discussion.China remains BASF’s most importantAsian market. It accounts for a half ofboth BASF’s Asian business and theAsian chemical market. In India, BASFis looking at a further expansion of itssite. The company’s sales in India nowexceed $1 bn and large plants are nowneeded there. Of a planned totalinvestment of $15 bn between 2011and 2015, some 30-40% will go toemerging countries. And the share willrise to 35-45% for the 2016-2020period.

Original Source: Handelsblatt Wirtschafts- undFinanzzeitung, 30 May 2012, (Website:http://www.handelsblatt.com) (in German) © Verlagsgruppe Handelsblatt GmbH & Co KG 2012.Original Source: Chemie Aktuell, 30 May & 4 Jun2012, (Website: http://www.maerkte-weltweit.de) (inGerman) © MBM Martin Brueckner Medien GmbH2012

Dow Corning inaugurates newtechnology centre

Dow Corning has formally opened itsnew Business & Technology Centre inSingapore, designed to deliveradvanced R&D support for innovationand sustainability projects across theASEAN and Australasia region.Located at Solaris Fusionopolis, theR&D hub will focus mainly on the fieldsof engineering and physical sciences.

Original Source: Speciality Chemicals, Apr 2012, 32(4), (Website: http://www.specchemonline.com/) © Quartz Business Media Ltd 2012

Univar extends Dow agreement inEurope

Univar Inc and Dow Personal Carehave agreed to expand their existingdistribution deal to include France andBenelux. Univar will distribute in thesaid countries the complete range ofDow’s legacy Rohm and Haaspersonal care speciality ingredients,including Acudyne hair styling polymersand Aculyn rheology modifiers.

Original Source: SPC, Soap, Perfumery andCosmetics, May 2012, 85 (5), 9 (Website:http://www.cosmeticsbusiness.com/) © HPCi MediaLtd 2012

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