On 9 May, Firmenich announced in a press release the first day of life of the merger. In May 2022, the news agency Reuters announced that the Dutch chemical manufacturer DSM had officially announced the purchase of Firmenich and the sale of its engineering plastics division. With this double move, DSM sought to become a major player in the health ingredients and products business.
One year later, the merger has been completed to create a new company: dsm-Firmenich. This new company promises to bring together one of the largest innovation and creation communities in nutrition, health and beauty. Comprising a team of nearly 30,000 people and unrivalled capabilities based on more than a century of cutting-edge science, dsm-firmenich will pioneer the reinvention, manufacture and combination of vital nutrients, flavours and fragrances. The creation of this new brand was born from the premise of creating a spirit that captures the union of the two organisations in a fusion of equals.
In the press release, dsm-firmenich aims to position itself as the alternative to what society needs, from personal desires to environmental issues. The company has four business areas which, as they point out, are based on scientific research and manufacturing excellence. These four lines are:
- Animal health and nutrition
- Perfumery and beauty
- Flavour, texture and health
- Health, nutrition and care
"We are building on an incredible legacy. After more than a century of innovative science by two great companies, we are now establishing a new force for good in nutrition, health and beauty," said Dimitri de Vreeze, co-CEO of the new company.
In January 2023, Royal DSM's Annual General Meeting of Shareholders approved the merger of the company with Firmenich by 99.86%.