DALLAS, Oct. 29, 2008 - Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NYSE: KMB) today announced it has reached an agreement to purchase from Compañía Colombiana de Inversiones S.A. (Colinversiones) and other related parties the remaining approximately 31 percent shares of Kimberly-Clark's Andean region subsidiary, Colombiana Kimberly Colpapel S.A. (CKC). The transaction, which is expected to close in late January 2009, will bring Kimberly-Clark's ownership of CKC to 100 percent. Kimberly-Clark expects this investment will be modestly accretive to 2009 bottom-line results.
"Our increased ownership in this successful affiliate bolsters Kimberly-Clark's presence in the region and enhances our growth potential in the rapidly developing markets of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela," said Bob Black, Group President of Kimberly-Clark's developing and emerging markets businesses. "Our Andean region joint venture has been very successful for nearly four decades and we have enjoyed an excellent working relationship with Colinversiones. This transaction gives us greater flexibility in how we execute our growth strategies in the region and should help generate even better returns for our shareholders."
Colombiana Kimberly Colpapel is a leading manufacturer and marketer of consumer tissue and personal care products and also sells K-C professional products. Included among the leading brands the company markets are: Huggies, Kleenex, Scott, Kotex, Depend, Duramax and Kimberly-Clark.
The company is headquartered in Bogotá, Colombia, operates nine manufacturing facilities and employs more than 6,400 full-time employees and contracted personnel across the region.
About Kimberly-Clark
Kimberly-Clark and its well-known global brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 150 countries. Every day, 1.3 billion people - nearly a quarter of the world's population - trust K-C brands and the solutions they provide to enhance their health, hygiene and well-being. With brands such as Kleenex, Scott, Huggies, Pull-Ups, Kotex and Depend, Kimberly-Clark holds No. 1 or No. 2 share positions in more than 80 countries. To keep up with the latest K-C news and to learn more about the company's 136-year history of innovation, visit www.kimberly-clark.com.