Novozymes

History

In 1925, the brothers Harald and Thorvald Pedersen founded Novo Terapeutisk Laboratorium and Nordisk Insulinlaboratorium with the aim to produce insulin. In 1941 the company's predecessor launched its first enzyme, trypsin, extracted from the pancreas of animals and used to soften leather, and was the first to produce enzymes by fermentation using bacteria in the 1950s. In the late 1980s Novozymes presented the world's first fat-splitting enzyme for detergents manufactured with genetically engineered microorganisms, called Lipolase.

The current Novozymes was founded in 2000 as a spinout from pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk.

In the 2000s Novozymes expanded through the acquisition of several companies focusing on business outside the core enzyme business. Amongst them were the Brazilian bio agricultural company Turfal and German pharmaceutical, chemical and life science company EMD/Merck Crop BioScience Inc. These acquisitions made Novozymes a leader in sustainable solutions for the agricultural biological industry.

In January 2016, the company spun out its biopharmaceutical operations into Albumedix.

In June 2020, the business announced it would acquire Ireland-based PrecisionBiotics for $90 million. In December of the same year Novozymes announced it would acquire Microbiome Labs in a $125 million deal.

In 12 December 2023, it was announced that Novozymes and Danish bioscience company Chr. Hansen had obtained regulatory approval for a merger,{{cite web|title= Commission clears Novozymes and Chr. Hansen merger, subject to conditions|url=https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_6525|date=12 December 2023}} and on the following day, the name of the combined company was revealed as Novonesis.

Ownership

The Novozymes class A share capital is held by Novo Holdings A/S, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. In addition, Novo A/S holds 5,826,280 B shares, which overall gives Novo A/S 25.5% of the total share capital and 70.1% of the votes.

References

References

1. (1 January 2023). "The Novozymes Report 2022". Novozymes.
2. (20 January 2015). "The Novozymes Report 2014". Novozymes.
3. NASDAQ OMX Nordic. (5 April 2004). "NASDAQ OMX Nordic Novozymes Information". NASDAQ OMX Nordic.
4. Novozymes [http://www.novozymes.com/en/about-us/facts-about-Novozymes/Novozymes-history/Pages/default.aspx Novozymes' history] {{Webarchive. link. (2015-03-31 Page accessed August 31, 2014)
5. Parameswaran, B et al (2013) [http://nopr.niscair.res.in/bitstream/123456789/17451/1/JSIR%2072(5)%20271-286.pdf http://nopr.niscair.res.in/bitstream/123456789/17451/1/JSIR%2072(5)%20271-286.pdf Industrial Enzymes - Present Status & Future Perspectives for India] Journal of scientific and industrial research 72:271-286.
6. Susan Watts for the New Scientist, Issue 1671. 01 July 1989. [https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg12316714.600-technology-engineered-enzyme-washes-whiter-than-white.html Engineered enzyme washes whiter than white]
7. Gelu Sulugiuc for Bloomberg News. 20 Dex, 2010 [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-20/novozymes-to-acquire-merck-s-crop-science-unit-for-275-million.html Novozymes Buys Merck Crop Business for $275 Million]
8. Frank Vinluan for Xconomy 6 August 2014 [http://www.xconomy.com/raleigh-durham/2014/08/06/novozymes-bioag-rd-turns-to-microbials-to-boost-crop-yields/?single_page=true Novozymes' BioAg R&D Turns to Microbials to Boost Crop Yields]
9. (19 January 2016). "Novozymes Spins Out Albumedix - GEN".
10. (25 June 2020). "Novozymes buys Irish probiotic maker PrecisionBiotics". Reuters.
11. (18 December 2020). "Novozymes to buy U.S. Probiotics maker Microbiome Labs". Reuters.
12. (13 December 2023). "Novozymes and Chr. Hansen announce name of future combined company; Novonesis".