Colgate could bring international products to U.S.

CHICAGO, May 8 (Reuters) - Colgate-Palmolive Co (CL.N: Quote, Profile, Research) could dive deeper into mouthwash and other categories in the United States, its top executive told shareholders at the company's annual meeting on Friday.

Still, Chairman and Chief Executive Ian Cook said Colgate has no "current ambitions" to extend beyond areas where it already competes. The company, best known for its toothpaste, also makes soap, deodorant, cleaning products and pet food.

Shareholders did not approve a proposal that would have given them an advisory vote on executive compensation.

A preliminary tally showed 45 percent voted in favor of the proposal and nearly 50 percent voted against it, with the remaining percentage abstaining, Cook said.

Shareholders at the New York meeting peppered Cook with praise for Colgate's performance during the recession and asked about products that they could not find on U.S. shelves.

In response to a question about mouthwashes, Cook said that while Colgate is not in the mouthwash business in the United States, "that day may come."

Colgate sells the No. 2 mouthwash brand internationally and is the leader in five significant markets, he said.

The company does sell rinses such as Colgate Viadent and Colgate Fluorigard in the United States. It does not have a more common mouthwash such as rival Procter & Gamble Co's (PG.N: Quote, Profile, Research) Scope. In 2006, Colgate backed away from a possible plan to buy Pfizer Inc's (PFE.N: Quote, Profile, Research) consumer healthcare business, including Listerine mouthwash. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N: Quote, Profile, Research) bought that business.

Cook told another shareholder who asked about a clear mouthwash that Colgate has such a product internationally and would take the idea under advisement.