- Reckitt Benckiser
Infobox Company
company_name = Reckitt Benckiser plc
company_
company_type = Public (lse|RB)
foundation =1814 1938 by merger of Reckitt & Sons and J&J Colman.1999 by merger of Reckitt & Colman and Benckiser.
location =Slough ,England , UK
key_people = Adrian Bellamy (Chairman)
Bart Becht (CEO)
Colin Day (CFO)
industry = Chemicals
products = Cleaning products, healthcare, condiments
revenue = £5,3 billion (2007 )|
operating_income=£1,2 billion (2007 )
net_income = £938 million (2007 )
num_employees = 21,900 (2006 )
homepage = [http://www.reckittbenckiser.com www.reckittbenckiser.com]Reckitt Benckiser plc (lse|RB) is a leading British-based manufacturer of cleaning products. It is headquartered in the town of
Slough to the west ofLondon . It is a constituent of theFTSE 100 Index .Reckitt Benckiser has operations in more than sixty countries and sells its products in more than 180 countries.
History
The company was formed by a merger between Britain's "Reckitt & Colman" and the Dutch company "Benckiser NV" in December 1999. [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19991117/ai_n14262285 Reckitt & Coleman annouce further delay to Dutch merger] ] The origins of Reckitt Benckiser's main predecessor businesses are set out below. Various other business have also been purchased over the years.
*"
Colman's " was founded in 1814 when Jeremiah Colman began millingflour and mustard inNorwich ,England . [http://www.reckittbenckiser.com/RBTemplates/AboutUsOurHistory.aspx?pageid=15 Reckitt Benckiser History] ]
*Johann A. "Benckiser" founded a business in Germany in 1823. Its main products were industrial chemicals. "Benckiser" went public in 1997. [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3715/is_199712/ai_n8767221/pg_1 The case for US GAAP] ]
*Isaac "Reckitt" rented a starch mill in Hull,England , in 1840. He diversified into other household products and in due course passed on his business to his four sons. "Reckitt & Sons" listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1888.
*In 1938 Reckitt & Sons merged with "J&J Colman" to become "Reckitt & Colman Ltd". "Reckitt & Colman" sold the "Colman's" food business in 1995 but still has some food brands.In October 2005, Reckitt Benckiser agreed to purchase the over-the-counter drugs manufacturing business of
Boots Group , Boots Healthcare International, for £1.926 billion. The three main brands acquired wereNurofen inanalgesic s;Strepsils sore throat lozenges; andClearasil anti-acne treatments. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4318088.stm Reckitt Benckiser buys Boots unit] BBC News, 2005]In January 2008, the Company acquired Adams Respiratory Therapeutics Inc., a pharmaceutical company, for $2.3bn. [ [http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.aspx?feed=AP&date=20080124&id=8087386 Reckitt completes Adams tender offer] ]
Operations
The Company divides its brands into six categories: surface care, fabric care, dishwashing, home care, health and personal care, and food.
Controversy
In March 2008, Reckitt Benckiser was accused of blocking a generic version of one of its most popular products,
Gaviscon . The generic remedy, it was estimated, could save the NHS up to £40M. Leaked documents from Reckitt Benckiser revealed the existence of 'Project Eric', the objective of which appeared to be the manipulation of doctors and regulators. [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/mar/07/health.nhs/print Company accused of cheating NHS] ]Brands
This is a list of the brands owned by Reckitt Benckiser:
*
Aerogard
* Air Wick
* Amphyl
*Bonjela
* Brasso
*Calgon
* Brio
* Calgonit
* Cattlemen's
* Ceraclen
*Chore Boy
* Cillit
* Clean and Smooth
*Clearasil
* Cling
* Cling Free
* Cobra Brilliant Shiner
*d-Con
*Dettol
* dip-it
* Disprin
*Easy-Off
* Easy On
* Electrasol
* Finish
*Frank's Red Hot
* French's Foods
*Gaviscon
* Glass Magic
* Glass Mates
*Glass Plus
* Glassex
* Harpic
* Hoffmann's
* Jet-Dry
*Lemsip
* Intima Liasan / Intima Bidex
* Lewis Red Devil
* Lime-A-Way
* Lysol
* Masterpiece Metalist
* Mop & Glo
*Mortein
*Mr. Sheen
* Mr. Min
* Nenuco
* Neutra-Air
*Nurofen
*Nurofen for children
*Noxon
* Old English
* Perk
* Poliflor Pratic
* Poliflor Maximo Brilho
* Precision Blend
* Resolve
* Rid-X
* Robin Blue
* Sagrotan
*Sani Flush
*Senokot
* Sipuro
* Spray 'n Starch
* Spray 'n Wash
*Strepsils
* Vanish
* Vani-Sol
*Veet
* Vitroclen
* Vivid
* Wenol
* Wizard
* Woolite
* Yes
* ZudOwnership
* JAB Investments, 15.4%
* Legal & General Investment Management, 3.2%
* MFS Investment Management, 3.1%LizolCompetitors
*
Clorox
*Colgate-Palmolive
*Henkel
*GlaxoSmithKline
*Procter & Gamble
*S. C. Johnson & Son
*Unilever
*Sara Lee
*Church and Dwight References
External links
* [http://www.reckittbenckiser.com/ Official site]
* [http://uk.finance.yahoo.com/q/pr?s=RB.L Yahoo profile]
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