Cognis in brief

Company portrait
Cognis is a leading worldwide supplier of innovative specialty chemicals and nutritional ingredients, with a particular focus on the areas of wellness and sustainability. The company employs about 5,600 people, and it operates production sites and service centers in 30 countries. Cognis has dedicated its activities to a high level of sustainability and delivers natural source raw materials and ingredients for food and beverages, 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, agriculture and mining.

Cognis is owned by private equity funds advised by Permira, GS Capital Partners and SV Life Sciences. In 2008, Cognis recorded sales of about 3 billion euros and an Adjusted EBITDA (operating result) of 351 million euros.

Product portfolio and markets
Cognis' three strategic business units (SBUs) are aligned with the markets of our customers' customers. All three SBUs develop innovative solutions for the respective markets using a large share of natural, renewable raw materials and the expertise in specialty chemicals especially in surfactant and surface technology. At the same time, all three SBUs complement each other through in-depth knowledge of the relevant consumer markets.
 

• Care Chemicals: As an internationally leading supplier of raw materials and specialties for personal and home care products as well as for industrial cleaning solutions, Cognis is a driving force in the market. Care Chemicals combines vast experience in nature-based chemistry with innovative formulation expertise. This enables us to deliver ingredients and market-ready concepts that meet the growing demand for excellent performance and greenness.
   
• Nutrition & Health: With extensive expertise in active and non-active ingredients, Cognis generates highly effective solutions for the food, beverage, dietary supplement and pharma industries. The formulation know-how and deep insight into consumer needs concentrated in our Nutrition & Health SBU make us a driving force in the development of modern nutrition. Our targeted portfolio ranges from innovative food and functional food ingredients to winning concepts for dietary supplements and pharmaceutical products.
   
• Functional Products: With comprehensive knowledge and skills in nature-based chemistry, surfactant chemistry and surface technologies, Cognis is a driving force in high-performance "green" chemistry for a range of industries. Functional Products is dedicated to serving the agricultural, coatings, lubricants and mining sectors with innovative and sustainable ingredients and formulations. Its broad and forward-looking portfolio ideally meets the needs of industry in the 21st century.
  

To get further information about Cognis, please dowload our corporate brochure "Cognis in Brief 2009":

English version (PDF 2.6 MB)
German version (PDF 1.5 MB)
Spanish version (PDF 1.5 MB)