Clorox Buys Businesses in South America

Clorox Co. said it bought two household product businesses in Chile and Argentina at the end of December, further expanding its largest international division in Latin America. The Oakland-based maker of bleach and other household products declined to disclose terms of the acquisitions. Clorox said it bought Royal Dutch Petroleum Co.’s household product business in Chile, which includes a window cleaner brand, the second-leading insecticide and an air freshener product. In Argentina, Clorox bought the country’s leading pine cleaner brand from Ubyco. Separately, Clorox said fiscal second-quarter net income rose 16% to $43.9 million, or 85 cents a share, from $37.9 million, or 73 cents a share, a year ago. Revenue rose 14% to $530.2 million from $466.8 million. Shares gained 87.5 cents to close at $104.25 on the NYSE.