Highlights of the Cognis corporate history
December 2010: On December 9, BASF successfully completes its acquisition of Cognis Holding GmbH. BASF intends to fully integrate Cognis into the BASF Group.
June 2010: On June 22, Cognis' owners Permira Funds, GS Capital Partners and SV Life Sciences sign a sale and purchase agreement with BASF SE.
January 2010: On January 1, 2010, Cognis opens an affiliate in Selangor, Malaysia. Cognis Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Cognis Group. The aim is to accelerate the group’s growth in the region by improving the level of service it offers to customers there. The decision to open an affiliate in Malaysia reflects the country’s strategic importance to Cognis.
May 2009: Cognis opens an affiliate in Mumbai, India. As of May 18, Cognis India is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Cognis Group, and operates under the name of Cognis Specialty Chemicals Pvt. Ltd. The new affiliate will continue to grow Cognis’ business in India, and highlights the importance of this region.
November 2008: Cognis sells its 50-percent stake in the Cognis Oleochemicals joint venture (effective June 30, 2008) to PTT Chemical International Private Ltd., a Singapore based wholly owned subsidiary of PTT Chemical Public Company Limited. A stable supply of oleochemical basestocks is secured, as Cognis is intending to continue sourcing products from the business under normal third party commercial terms.
October 2008: Cognis sells its subsidiary Pulcra Chemicals to Fashion Chemicals GmbH & Co. KG, an investor backed mainly by DSD Deri Sanayicileri Dis Ticaret A.S). The sale is in line with Cognis’ strategy of focusing on its core businesses driven by the wellness and sustainability trends and follows the agreement of July 2008.
March 2008: Cognis acquires an interest in InterMed Discovery GmbH and at the same time signs a cooperation agreement. The global specialty chemicals supplier has thus secured access to one of the world’s largest natural product data bases and exclusive access to selected potential active ingredients for specific applications in functional foods, dietary supplements as well as personal and home care products.
July 2007: As of July 1, 2007, the former Cognis’ Process Chemicals strategic business unit trades as an independent, wholly owned subsidiary under the new name of Pulcra Chemicals GmbH. The carve-out represents a decisive step towards ensuring long-term competitiveness and further enhancing product and service quality for customers in the fiber, textile, and leather industries.
October 2006: Cognis expands its Management Board: Paul Allen (Executive Vice President Functional Products), Stéphane Baseden (Executive Vice President Nutrition & Health) and Richard Ridinger (Executive Vice President Care Chemicals) have been appointed to the Management Board.
May 2006: Cognis acquires Napro Pharma AS, a Norwegian manufacturer of high-quality omega-3 fish oils for the nutrition industry. The Napro Pharma product portfolio further strengthens Cognis’ position as a leading supplier of natural-source ingredients for the dietary supplement and functional food markets.
March 2006: Cognis acquires Cosmetic Rheologies Ltd. Headquartered in Manchester, UK, the polymer specialist has a strong expertise in polymer research and manufacture as well as in formulation development, and provides rheology modifiers and conditioning agents.
February 2006: Cognis transfers its global oleochemicals business, comprising fatty acids, glycerin, oilfield chemicals, ozone acids, and plastics technology, to its existing joint venture with Golden Hope Plantations Berhad (since November 2007: Sime Darby Berhad). The 50:50 joint venture, known as Cognis Oleochemicals (M) Sdn. Bhd. and headquartered in Malaysia, remains a subsidiary of the Cognis Group.
January 2005: Cognis moves its head office from Düsseldorf to Monheim.
April 2003: Cognis strengthens its position on the British market by acquiring Laporte Performance Chemicals. Located in Hythe, the company produces hydroxymonomers for environmentally sound paint systems, polyalkylene glycols for synthetic lubricants, acrylate-based multifunctional monomers for coatings and rubber chemicals and ester-based plastic additives.
January 2002: CEO Dr. Harald Wulff hands over his position to Dr. Antonio Trius. Cognis moves its head office to Düsseldorf.
November 2001: Three private equity investors – Permira Funds, GS Capital Partners and SV Life Sciences Funds – become the new owners of Cognis.
November 2000: Henkel states decision to sell Cognis, to focus on Brands and Technologies.
December 1999: The Holding Cognis B.V., located in Roermond, The Netherlands, takes over the international business management.
August 1999: Cognis Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG is launched as 100 percent subsidiary of Henkel KGaA.
April 1999: Takeover of Laboratoires Sérobiologiques, an international supplier of active ingredients for the cosmetics and food industry.
February 1999: The Management Board of Henkel KGaA proposes to carve out the chemicals business and set it up as a legally independent entity.