Cognis is a supplier of specialty chemicals and nutritional ingredients, with a particular focus on the areas of wellness and sustainability to food, nutrition and healthcare markets and the cosmetics, detergents and cleaners industries. Another main focus is on products for a number of other industries, such as coatings and inks, lubricants, textiles, as well as agriculture and mining. In 2008, it had sales of around Euro3bn and employs about 5,880 people. 
History
The Cognis group was established in August 1999 as a carve-out of the chemical products business of Henkel. On 30 November 2001, Cognis became a wholly independent enterprise. The investor group, Permira Funds, GS Capital Partners and Schroder Ventures Life Sciences took over Cognis from Henkel.
Its businesses are divided into five business units: oleochemicals, care chemicals, nutrition and health, functional products and PulcraChemicals.
Company movements
In March 2009, Cognis sold its botanical extracts business to Burgundy Botanical Extracts for an undisclosed sum.
In November 2008, Cognis completed the divestment of its Pulcra Chemicals subsidiary for €23.1m ($29.6m) to Fashion Chemicals.
In July 2008, Cognis said it will sell its 50% stake in Cognis Oleochemicals to PTT Chemical for €104m ($165m).
Cognis Oleochemicals manufactures its products from renewable raw materials, i.e. exclusively from natural oils and fats. Cognis claims to provide the world's broadest range of basic chemicals derived from environmentally friendly, renewable raw materials. Natural oils and fats like coconut, palm kernel, rapeseed, soybeans and sunflower oils are the primary sources for its products, supplied in different grades and in identical quality around the world.
Cognis' oleochemical base materials are used either as a functional ingredient in formulation or as a processing aid in production. Chemical conversion of these base materials generates numerous oleochemical derivatives. As a raw materials partner to the personal care, pharmaceuticals and food processing industries, the company offers a broad product line of vegetable oil-based and kosher-classified products.
Oleochemicals business sectors are primary surfactants, oilfield chemicals and silicates.
Care Chemicals
Base materials, additives and active ingredients for cosmetics, detergents and cleaners are another area of Cognis expertise. The care chemicals business covers virtually the entire spectrum of hair, skin and body care, as well as household and industrial detergents and cleaners.
One of the company's key strengths is that it offers its customers not only products, but the opportunity to join forces with Cognis in actively researching and developing specific solutions. Cognis provides formulation know how and complete marketing concepts for beauty, personal care and cleansing applications.
Cognis states that with its knowledge of local and global trends, it enjoys a decisive competitive edge in the global market place. One major focus at Cognis is the development of premium cosmetic actives from botanical sources. Care chemicals business sectors are hair/body/oral care, skin care, home care and industrial & institutional cleaning.
Nutrition and Health
The nutrition & health business concentrates on the interlinked areas of nutrition, health and food technology. Cognis delivers natural source ingredients and know-how that promote healthy nutrition and well-being. From plant-derived antioxidants, sterols, botanicals and mixed carotenoids for dietary supplements and functional foods, to formulation expertise and ingredients for food products.
Cognis focuses especially on the dynamic and lucrative new markets of functional food, innovative pharmaceuticals, as well as modern animal feed. Business sectors are dietary supplements, pharmaceuticals & healthcare, food technology, functional food & medical nutrition and animal nutrition.
Functional Products
The functional products unit concentrates on formulations and services aimed at optimising production results. Cognis' solutions are designed specifically to speed up processes, enhance safety, and reduce costs. The unit serves primarily the coatings and inks industry and offers synthetic lubricants and innovative plant care products.
Performance monomers for the polymer and lubricants markets are a further specialty here. Functional chemicals business sectors are coating technology, graphic arts, polymerisation, polymer building blocks, synlubes technology, agro solutions, fermentation specialties, mining chemicals technology and ion-transfer technology.
Cognis
Strategy & Financial Highlights
Cognis will focus on its three core business areas and continue to optimise its operations and processes to what it states as “equipping itself for the market challenges that lie ahead”. One example of this has been establishing a company-wide cost optimisation programme. (Edited from annual report). ICIS also provides you with key financial data listed in table form.
More about Cognis Strategy & Financial Highlights
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