Company Profile For Kao Corporation

Kao Corporation is a Japan-based company that operates through two business segments: Consumer Product and Chemical. The Consumer Product segment has three divisions. The Beauty Care division offers prestige cosmeticｓ; premium skincare products such as face washes, as well as premium hair care products including shampoos, hair styling products and hair coloring products, among others. The Human Health Care division provides foods and beverage products such as cooking oils; sanitary products including hygiene products and paper diapers, as well as personal health products such as bath additives. The Fabric and Home Care division offers fabric care products including detergents for apparel use, and home care products including detergents for kitchen use. The Chemical segment provides oil and fat products such as fat acids; functional materials products such as surface acting agents and additives for plastic use, as well as specialty chemical products such as essences, among others.

BRIEF: For the six months ended 30 September 2009, Kao Corporation's revenues decreased 9% to Y599.05B. The Company's net income decreased 22% to Y25.24B. Revenues reflect lower sales from the beauty care and chemical business segments. Net income also suffers from a higher percentage of selling, general & admin expenses, as well as the presence of Y3.42B losses on cooking oil related disposal.