DGAP-News Cognis: New structure of Cognis Management Board

Cognis Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG / Statement/Directorate Change

27.09.2006

Corporate news transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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INVESTOR RELATIONS RELEASE

Monheim, September 27, 2006

New structure of Cognis Management Board

The Supervisory Board of global specialty chemicals supplier Cognis today
decided to expand the Management Board, with the aim of increasing the
company´s customer and market focus even further. Effective October 1,
2006, Paul Allen (54), Stephane Baseden (47) and Richard Ridinger (48) will
be appointed to the Management Board as Executive Vice Presidents. Antonio
Trius (51) and Helmut Heymann (54) were both confirmed in their positions
as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Administration Officer respectively.
Cognis´ Chief Financial Officer Arnold Kiel (44) will leave the company at
his own request and by mutual consent on September 30, 2006. His successor
will be Klaus Edelmann (63).

Paul Allen is head of Cognis´ Strategic Business Unit (SBU) Functional
Products since November 2005, and General Manager of Cognis Corporation in
the US since February 2004. After studying foreign languages and business
studies at the University of Bath in the UK and the Freie Universität in
Berlin, Germany, Allen went on to study at the London Institute of
Purchasing and Supply. This was followed by positions at several
international companies, before becoming European business manager of
Diamond Shamrock Process Chemicals in 1985. After this company was acquired
by Henkel, Allen took over as head of Henkel Canada in 1988. From 1991, he
worked at Henkel Corporation (later Cognis Corporation) in the USA and was
employed in a variety of posts. Allen was in charge of the Nutrition &
Health SBU from 2002 to October 2005.

Stephane Baseden is responsible for the SBU Nutrition & Health since
November 2005. Baseden holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical
Engineering from the University of Surrey, England, and an MBA from ISSEC,
France. Prior to joining Cognis as Managing Director France in 2003 - a
position he holds until today - he had over 20 years´ experience of
management positions in a variety of functions and locations within the
Unilever group, where his last position was head of DiverseyLever
Asia-Pacific. In 2004 Baseden took over the responsibility for Nutrition &
Health Europe next to his role in France.

Richard Ridinger is in charge of the SBU Care Chemicals since 2001. He
studied chemical engineering at the University of Karlsruhe. Ridinger
started as a scientific employee in the sector of process technology at
Henkel Research and Technology in February 1986. Two years later, he was
production engineer in the fatty alcohol production. In 1992, he was
promoted to production manager for the Fatty Chemical Derivatives
production and, from 1995 onwards, additionally for the section Organic
Products. He took over the management of the newly grounded organization
for the production of derivatives in Düsseldorf in 1997. He transferred to
the Care Chemicals business in 1999 as the Global Business Director for
Skin Care.

Arnold Kiel, until now Chief Financial Officer of Cognis, will leave the
company at his own request and by mutual consent on September 30, 2006, in
order to pursue new activities outside Cognis. The Supervisory Board and
the Management Board would like to thank him for all his hard work and wish
him all the best for the future.

Klaus Edelmann will succeed Arnold Kiel on November 1, 2006. Until then,
Cognis Chief Administration Officer Helmut Heymann will take provisional
responsibility. Edelmann has more than 30 years of experience in
international industries, thereof 17 years in leading positions, amongst
others as a member of the Management Board of Dynamit Nobel AG and, from
1989 to 2001, of Deutz AG. Until recently, he was a consultant of Airbus
S.A.S.´ Executive Committee in Toulouse. The Supervisory Board and the
Management Board wish Klaus Edelmann all the best for his new position.


About Cognis
Cognis is a worldwide supplier of innovative specialty chemicals and
nutritional ingredients, with a particular focus on the areas of wellness
and sustainability. The company employs about 8,000 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, 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.
The company holds a 50-percent stake in the joint venture Cognis
Oleochemicals, one of the world´s leading manufacturers of oleochemicals.
Cognis is indirectly owned by private equity funds advised by Permira, GS
Capital Partners, and SV Life Sciences. In 2005, Cognis recorded sales of
3.18 billion euros and an Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, income
taxes, depreciation, amortization and exceptional items) of 356 million
euros.


Contact
Monica Stephensons, Senior Manager Investor Relations
Cognis Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG
Phone: +49-2173-4995-279
E-mail: investor-relations@cognis.com
Internet: www.cognis.com

Susanne Marell, Vice President Corporate Communications
Cognis Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG
Phone: +49-2173-4995-222
E-mail: susanne.marell@cognis.com
Internet: www.cognis.com





DGAP 27.09.2006
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Language: English
Issuer: Cognis Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG
Rheinpromenade 1
40789 Monheim Deutschland
Phone: 02173-4995-279
Fax: 0211-2006-10279
E-mail: investor-relations@cognis.com
WWW: www.cognis.com
ISIN: XS0191507556
WKN: A0BNCJ
Indices:
Listed: Open Market in Frankfurt

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