Kimberly-Clark to Hike Institutional Prices

Kimberly-Clark Corp., maker of Kleenex tissue and Scott paper towels, said it will raise prices 6% on towels and tissues sold to hotels and offices to recoup energy costs. The Feb. 15 price increase won’t affect products sold directly to consumers, Chairman Wayne Sanders told investors at a conference in Miami. Kimberly-Clark also will delay any new acquisitions until the second half, he said. Dallas-based Kimberly-Clark bought Safeskin Corp., a maker of disposable medical gloves, for $800 million in February. It was the company’s third acquisition in the health-care products field since December 1997. Kimberly-Clark shares slipped 10 cents to close at $67 on the NYSE.