Cognis

BASF Personal Care and Nutrition GmbH (formerly Cognis GmbH ) is a global provider of specialty chemical products and nutritional ingredients. Cognis was acquired on 9 December 2010 by the chemical company BASF and integrated as BASF Personal Care and Nutrition GmbH BASF Group in July 2011.

History

The company was founded as a wholly owned subsidiary of Henkel in 1999 was from 2001 to 2010 held by the private equity fund Permira, Goldman Sachs and Schroder Ventures Life Sciences. Between 2002 and 2011 was Antonio Trius, the Chief Executive Officer of Cognis.

In order to focus more on its core businesses sold in 2008 Cognis be Pulcra Chemicals subsidiary to Fashion Chemicals. In the same year the company also sold its 50 percent stake in the joint venture Cognis Oleochemicals to PTT Chemical International Private Ltd.. , A Singapore-based 100 - percent subsidiary of Thailand's PTT Chemical Public Company Limited.

In 2009, Cognis recorded sales of about 2.6 billion euros and an operating profit (Adjusted EBITDA) of 364 million euros. In June 2010, BASF agreed with the former Cognis owners subject to regulatory approval on a takeover of the company. The purchase for an amount of EUR 3.1 billion was approved on 30 November 2010 by the European antitrust authorities, subject to conditions.

Divisions and Products

The largely produced by Cognis natural-based raw materials and active ingredients were determined for different markets. These included the nutritional and healthcare markets, and the cosmetics, detergents and cleaners industries. There were also other industries, such as coatings and inks, lubricants, agriculture and mining.

The company was divided into three divisions:

Care Chemicals

The Care Chemicals division presented raw materials and additives here for the cosmetics, detergents and cleaners industries. 2008, the annual sales amounted to 1,684 million euros. Market segments were:

  • Hair / Body / Oral Care: hair cleansing, hair treatment, facial and body cleansing, oral care
  • Skin Care: facial, body and baby care, sun protection, deodorants and antiperspirants, Color Cosmetics, Personal Care Wipes
  • Home Care: Surface cleaning and care, fabric care, Skintex technology
  • Industrial & Institutional Cleaning: detergent, fabric care
  • Silicates: sodium and potassium silicates based on quartz sand, soda ash and potash for use in detergents, tires, mineral colors and bleaching agent for paper industry

Nutrition & Health

In Nutrition & Health segment APIs and excipients for the food, dietary supplement and pharmaceutical industries have been developed and produced. 2008, the annual turnover amounted to 346 million euros. Market segments are:

  • Food & Beverages: food emulsifiers, specialty compounds and functional ingredients from caking additive to additives for instant desserts, plant sterols and sterol esters, plant extracts, conjugated linoleic acid ( CLA), omega -3 fatty acids, natural vitamin E and natural carotenoids, lutein
  • Dietary Supplements: Natural nutrients such as vitamin E, mixed tocopherols, natural carotenoids, lutein esters, plant sterols and sterol esters, conjugated linoleic acid ( CLA) and omega -3 fatty acids
  • Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare: excipients for the pharmaceutical industry, especially on the basis of high-purity oleochemicals and derivatives, carriers for drugs, reagents and basic chemicals

Functional Products

Functional Products developed environmentally friendly ingredients and formulations, including coatings and inks, lubricants, as well as pesticides. 2008, the annual turnover amounted to 948 million euros. Market segments are:

  • Coatings: surfactants, additives, binders and basic chemicals for paints and coatings, inks, adhesives and polymer products
  • Lubricants: Complete formulations for hydraulic and transmission lubricants for transportation vehicles, wind energy, aircraft and cooling lubricants and additives for fuels and metal processing
  • Agro Solutions: Additives, green solvents and adjuvants for crop protection formulations
  • Mining & Ion - Transfer Technology: Solutions for metal extraction, metal recovery and recycling as well as removal of heavy metals from waste

Sustainability

As a former part of Henkel Cognis had many years of experience in nature-based chemistry and pursues the principle of sustainability. In its production processes Cognis processed about 50 percent renewable raw materials in the form of natural oils, fats and plant extracts.

Based on a proprietary classification system called " Green Chemical Solutions ' customers of Cognis Care Chemicals division could see how high the share of renewable natural resource base in the relevant product offered was.

In 2001, Cognis was the first specialty chemical manufacturers worldwide ISO 9001 certification matrix (quality) and ISO 14001 (environment). Since 2004, Cognis is active member of the International Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO ), which was launched by the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) to life.

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