UNV Unilever Nv

RNS No 3871e
UNILEVER PLC
UNILER NV
25th September 1997


         UNILEVER MERGES US CONSUMER BUSINESSES

Unilever is to merge three of its consumer products businesses in
the United States, to form a single company to be known as
Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, with effect from October 1,
1997.

Joining forces are Chesebrough-Pond's, Greenwich, CT;  Helene
Curtis, Chicago, IL; and Lever Brothers, New York, NY, which
together have annual sales in excess of $3.7 billion and sell
some of the country's most well-known home and personal care
products.

Robert M. Phillips, president, Unilever Home & Personal Care
North America, said: "By bringing together Cheseborough-Pond's,
Helen Curtis and Lever Brothers, we unite three successful
companies with unique strengths, great traditions and proud
histories.

"With the formation of Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, we will
be better able to leverage the scale and scope of the new
organisation to become stronger competitors in our markets across
the country.  The combined company will also help to better meet
all of the needs of our consumers and customers.  The goal of all
these businesses is greater growth and profitability," he said.

In 1996, Unilever reorganised its operations into separate,
autonomous Business Groups, one of which is Home & Personal Care
North America (HPC NA).  The HPC NA Business Group includes the
three businesses now being combined as well as Elizabeth Arden,
Calvin Klein Cosmetics and Lever Pond's Canada.  Arden and Klein,
which manage global businesses, and the Toronto based Lever
Pond's Canada are not affected by today's announcement.
                                                 
Unilever Home & Personal Care USA will consist of three operating
Business Units and six core Business Processes.  Each Business
Unit will focus on specific categories and be directly
responsible for marketing, development, product innovation,
consumer understanding and finance for those categories. They
will be supported by the six core Businesses Processes for
Customer Management, Finance, Human Resources, Information
Technology, Legal Services and Operations.

Mr Phillips added:  "The new structure allows us to focus all
consumer and customer-related category information, activity and
resources within a single Business Unit.  This will enable us to
take maximum advantage of the best practices that exist within
the three individual companies to improve upon the way we
operate. The implications for consumers and customers are better
service, stronger brands and, thus, better value."

Mr Phillips will take on the additional role of president of
Unilever Home & Personal Care USA and will lead an Executive
Board made up of the heads of each of the Business Units and
Business Processes.

                                
NOTE TO EDITORS:
The three Business Units making up Unilever Home & Personal Care
USA, and their assigned categories are:

Chesebrough-Pond's Business Unit -- personal wash, skin and oral
care categories

Its brands include Aim, Brut, Caress, Close-up, Dove (bar and
beauty), Lever 2000, Lifebouy, Lux, Mentadent, Pepsodent, Pond's,
Q-tips, Shield, Vaseline Intensive Care and Vaseline Petroleum
Jelly.

Helene Curtis Business Unit -- deodorant and hair care categories
Its brands include Aqua Net, Degree, Finesse, Rave, Salon
Selectives, Suave, and Vibrance Organic Care.
Lever Brothers Business Unit -- laundry and household care
categories
Its brands include "all", Dove (dish), Final Touch, Rinso,
Snuggle, Sunlight, Surf, and Wisk.


e-mail:press-office.london@unilever.com
http://www.unilever.com

Press Office Contact: 0181 891 4115 (out of office hours)


END

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