Corporate History

1887

Western sundry goods dealer Nagase Shoten started by Kao's founder, Mr. Tomiro Nagase

1902

Ukeji Factory completed, handling the entire production process from raw materials preparation to final product packaging

1923

Tokyo Azuma factory (current site of the Sumida complex) opened, expanding scale of soap production

1934

Housework Science Laboratory founded as a research facility that takes a scientific approach to all matters of housework

1964

Kao Industrial (Thailand) Co., Ltd. established

Kao (Taiwan) Corporation established

1965

Malaysia Kao established in Singapore
(Renamed Kao (Singapore) Private Ltd. in 1973)

1966

Takiya Kao (Tokyo) and Shoka Trading Company (Kobe) established as first "Hansha", sales companies specializing in wholesaling of Kao products

1970

Kao (Hong Kong) Ltd. established

Sinor Kao S.A. (Spain) established

1971

Nivea-Kao Co., Ltd. established as a joint venture company with Beiersdorf AG (West Germany) Housework Science Laboratory name changed to Kao Life Science Laboratory to reflect the voices of consumers in company activities

1973

Kao (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. established

1974

Kao-Quaker Co., Ltd. established as a joint venture company with Quaker Oats Co. (U.S.), to manufacture and sell furan resin for casting
(Became a 100% subsidiary of Kao Corporation in 1997)

1975

Quimi Kao S.A. de C.V. (Mexico) established

Kao Commercial (Thailand) Co., Ltd. established

1977

Pilipinas Kao, Inc. (Philippines) established

P.T. Pole Kao Indonesia Chemicals established
(Renamed P.T. Kao Indonesia Chemical in 1996)

Molins i Puigarnau S.A. (Spain) acquired
(Renamed Molins-Kao S.A. in 1979)

1978

Ehime Sanitary Products Co., Ltd. established

1980

Guhl Kosmetik project started in West Germany as a joint venture with Beiersdorf AG

1985

Kao Soap Co., Ltd. renamed Kao Corporation to reflect growing fields of business

Stake in P.T. Dino Indonesia Industrial Ltd. acquired
(Renamed P.T. Kao Indonesia in 1997)

1986

The First Total Cost Reduction (TCR) Activity started to fundamentally review organizational operations and workflow of the entire company

Guhl Ikebana GmbH (West Germany, currently combined with Kao Brands Company) established

1987

High Point Chemical Corporation (U.S.) acquired
(Reorganized as Kao Chemicals Americas Corporation, and Kao Specialties Americas LLC in 1999)

Sinor-Kao S.A. and Molins-Kao S.A. merged to form Kao Corporation S.A. (Spain)

1988

The Andrew Jergens Company (U.S.) acquired (Renamed Kao Brands Company in 2004) Fatty Chemical (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. established

1989

Goldwell AG (West Germany) acquired (Later renamed to KPSS – Kao Professional Salon Services GmbH)

1990

Kao Corporation (France) SARL established

1991

Kao Oleochemical (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. established

1992

Kao (Australia) Marketing Pty. Ltd. established

Chemische Fabrik Chem-Y GmbH (West Germany) acquired
(Renamed Kao Chemicals GmbH in 1996)

1993

Kao Corporation Shanghai established

1995

Kao Management Principles issued as corporate philosophy

Kao Chemical Corporation Shanghai established

1996

Kao Vietnam Co., Ltd. established

1997

Kao Chemicals (Hong Kong) Ltd. established

Withdrawal from the information technology business announced by Kao

1999

Kao Hanbai Co., Ltd. established following merger of 8 regional "Hansha", sales companies specializing in wholesaling of Kao products
(Became a 100% subsidiary of Kao Corporation in 2004)

Management indicator EVA® (Economic Value Added) introduced to Kao Japan

Kao Chemicals Europe, S.L. established (Spain)

2000

Kao Consumer Products (Southeast Asia) Co., Ltd. established in Thailand

2001

ADM Kao LLC (currently Kao Health and Nutrition LLC) established as a joint venture company with U.S. company Archer Daniels Midland Company (U.S.)

2002

Premium hair care manufacturer John Frieda Professional Hair Care, Inc., acquired to provide a base in the U.S. and the U.K.
(Combined with Kao Brands Company in 2004)

2004

"Kao Management Principles" revised and Kao Group corporate philosophy, "The Kao Way" issued

2005

Molton Brown Ltd. (U.K.) acquired

2006

The Kao Group acquired Kanebo Cosmetics Inc.

Kao (China) Research and Development Center completed

New fatty alcohol plant constructed and its operation started at Pilipinas Kao, Inc. in the Philippines

2007

Kao Museum, displaying the cultural history of cleanliness as well as the history of Kao, opened at the Sumida Complex in Tokyo

2009

Environmental Statement manifesting Kao's ecology-centered management and new Corporate Identity (CI) announced

A premium hair care products factory in Germany acquired through Kao Corporation GmbH