Reckitt Benckiser
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| Reckitt Benckiser plc <tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align:center; padding:16px 0 16px 0;"></td></tr> | |
| Type | Public LSE: RB |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 |
| Headquarters | Slough, United Kingdom
<tr><th style="text-align:right; padding-right:0.75em;">Key people</th><td>Adrian Bellamy (Chairman) |
Reckitt Benckiser plc is one of the world's leading manufacturers of cleaning products and a member of the FTSE 100 Index of the largest companies traded on the London Stock Exchange. It is headquartered in the town of Slough just to the west of Greater London.
Reckitt Benckiser has operations in more than sixty countries and sells its products in more than 180 countries. Turnover for the year to 31 December 2004 was £3,871 million. Profits before tax were £770 million, and net profits were £586 million. The company focuses on high-margin products and has shown strong growth in earnings per share in recent years. At 31 August 2005, it had a market capitalisation of £12.4 billion.
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[edit] History
The company was formed by a merger between Britain's Reckitt & Colman and the Dutch company Benckiser NV in 1999. 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 milling flour and mustard in Norwich, England
- Johann A. Benckiser founded a business in the Netherlands in 1823. Its main products were industrial chemicals.
- 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. It divides its brands into six categories: surface care, fabric care, dishwashing, home care, health and personal care, and food.
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 were Nurofen in analgesics; Strepsils sore throat lozenges; and Clearasil anti-acne treatments.
In September 2006, the company announced it would close its factory in Bilbao, Spain, leaving its 190 workers without their jobs.
[edit] Brands
This is a list of the brands owned by Reckitt Benckiser. Not all brands are sold in every country, and the same product may be sold under different brands in different countries.
[edit] Ownership
- JAB Investments, 15.4%
- Legal & General Investment Management, 3.2%
- MFS Investment Management, 3.1%
