Specialty materials manufacturer Rohm and Haas Company has updated its fourth quarter 2006 and full-year earnings guidance, noting that sales and earnings in the Salt business are being negatively impacted by the warmer than average winter weather, while the Electronic and Chemicals businesses continue to perform as expected. 

Full-year 2006 sales growth is expected to be approximately 5%, resulting in sales of approximately $8.3 billion.

The company also announced that the implementation of its organisational alignments to support its Vision 2010 strategy are nearly complete, resulting in an after-tax restructuring charge of approximately $12 million for the quarter related to cash severance and employee separation benefits, affecting approximately 200 positions concentrated in North America.

The organisational alignments include a more streamlined business structure, and deployment of resources to higher growth markets. The restructuring charge also includes ongoing operating efficiency initiatives in the North American Chemicals and Salt businesses. These initiatives are expected to yield after-tax savings of approximately $16 million annually.