Novartis India Ltd Company History

The Company was incorporated on 5th January. The Company was

registered on 13th December, 1947 under the name Ciba Pharma Pvt.

Ltd., as a wholly owned subsidiary of Ciba Ltd., Basle, Switzerland to

take over the trading business in pharmaceuticals from the parent

company's another Indian subsidiary, viz., Ciba (India) Ltd., the name

of which was changed later to Ciba Dyes Pvt. Ltd., with effect from 1st

March, 1948. Ciba Dyes Pvt. Ltd., was registered in India on 13th

June, 1928 and was dealing in dyestuffs and pharmaceuticals.

The name of the Company was changed from Ciba Pharma Pvt. Ltd., to

Ciba of India Ltd., with effect from 5th January, soon after the

amalgamation of Ciba Dyes Pvt. Ltd., with the Company with effect from

31st December, 1960.

The name of the Company was again changed to Ciba-Geigy of India

Ltd., with effect from 21st October, 1970. With effect from 1st

January, 1983, the name of the Company was changed from Ciba-Geigy of

India Ltd., to Hindustan Ciba-Geigy Ltd., to reflect the forthcoming

change in its status to that of Indian company on eventual reduction of

the foreign equity of 40%.

From purely trading activities, the Company moved to the manufacture

of pharmaceutical formulations. Then it undertook the manufacture of a

large number of bulk drugs, many invovling both high technology and

basic manufacture.

The Company also diversified its activities by undertaking the basic

manufacture of pesticides in a backward region in Goa. It also entered

the export field by establishing a 100% export unit in Kandla Free

Trade Zone.

Technical know-how for the manufacture of organic phosphates &

Phospites and textile auxiliaries of the Company which would be

implemented in the near future was being supplied to the Company free

of all charge by Ciba-Geigy, Basle, Switzerland.

The Company holds a letter of intent for the manufacture of EPN

resins and submitted an application to the Government of India, seeking

approval for foreign collaboration for the project with Ciba-Geigy,

Basle, Switzerland.

The majority of products marketed by the Company bear trade marks

which are covered by Licensed User Agreements dated 14th October, 1971

(As modified by the Agreement dated 14th August, 1974), 5th February,

1975, 29th March, 1978, 5th March, 1981, 12th August, 1982 and 17th

March, 1983 concluded between the Company and Ciba-Geigy, Basle,

Switzerland.

25,000 rights equity shares issued at par in proportion 1:2 on 9th

July.

2,50,000 bonus equity shares issued in proportion 10:3 on 17th

October.

Pesticides are manufactured at the Company's plant at Santa Monica,

Goa. The pesticides manufactured by the Company are used for the

control of pests affecting cotton, rice, oilseeds, pulses, vegetables,

fruit crops, etc. The Company's marketing efforts are buttressed by

the extension of services which it provides to the agriculturist.

1,62,500 bonus shares issued in proportion 1:2 on 18th October.

Out of the total shares issued till December 1971, 3,16,875 shares

held by CIBA-GEIGY, Ltd. Basle, Switzerland.

Consumer products were manufactured by the Company at its Bhandup

plant. It also markets toothbrushes. Consumer products of the Company

are being marketed under the brand name "BINACA".

1,30,000 Bonus shares issued in prop. 4:15 on 16.6.1975.

3,08,750 bonus shares issued in prop. 1:2 on 14.11.1977.

4,63,125 bonus shares issued in prop. 1:2 on 9.10.1980.

The Company entered into an Agreement dated 11th March, with

Ciba-Geigy, Basle, Switzerland.

Ciba-Geigy, Ltd., Switzerland was permitted by the Reserve Bank of

India to disinvest 1,94,783 equity shares of Rs 100 each at a premium

of Rs. 75 per share in favour of the existing resident Indian equity

shareholders. Accordingly, offers were made to the resident equity

shareholders in terms of a letter dated 12th February, 1985.

The object of the public issue of equity capital during July, was to

dilute the foreign equity from 65% to 51%. The proceeds of the issue

were being utilised to finance the Company's ongoing and future

projects.

3,81,400 shares issued at a prem. of Rs 40 per share through a

prospectus out of which the following shares were reserved and

allotted: 28,330 shares to employees and working directors of the

Company; 7,080 shares for business associates of the Company and 27,250

shares to financial institutions (in equal prop. to LIC, GIC and UTI).

The balance 3,18,740 shares offered for public subscription during

July/August.

The Company was permitted by Ciba Geigy, Ltd., Switzerland to use

their trade mark `CIBACA' for the consumers products marketed by the

Company. The trade mark "BINACA" were permitted to be used for a

transitional period upto the end of 1986.

The epoxy resins marketed by the Company under the brand name of

"Araldite" are required for a host of critical industrial applications

ranging from anti-corrosion to India's aerospace programme.

A new fomulation voveran SR - Sutained Release were successfully

launched. New products, like Ridomil M272 WP for the control of

diseases affecting grapes and tobacco and Fasinex for the control of

flukes in cattle and sheep were introduced.

A letter of intent for the manufacture of 700 tonnes per annum of

saturated polyester resins for powder coatings were received.

A letter of intent was received for the manufacture of 1200 tons p.a.

of speciality chemicals for the detergents, dyes and textile

industries. An agreement was reached with UCB S.A., Belgium, to

manufacture saturated polyester resins locally.

Another letter of intent was received for the manufacture of

anti-oxidants with the technical know-how to be provided by CIBA-GEIGY

of Switzerland. The plant facilities at the agricultural chemicals

division were being modernised.

The dyes and chemicals division consolidated its position in the

field of leather chemicals with additional products in synthetic

tanning agents and dyestuffs.

The letter of Intent for the manufacture of saturated polyester

resins was converted into an industrial licence. A new plant for the

manufacture of saturated polyester resins was proposed to be

implemented shortly in technical collaboration with UCB, SA, Belgium.

The Company made an offer to Citibank, NA, Mumbai for private

placement of 10,00,000-14% non-convertible debentures of Rs. 100 each.

The debentures would be redeemed at a premium of 5% in three equal

instalments after expiry of 6th, 7th and 8th years from the date of

allotment of the debentures.

8,85,387 bonus shares issued in prop. 1:2.

The sales of consumer health care unit was affected due to the

chloride controversy. During the year, the Cibaca lime gel tooth paste

was test marketed. The agricultural division launched during December,

APRON 35 WS, a seed dressing fungicide for control of the diseases in

bajra, sorghum, rapeseed etc.

The saturated polyester resin unit in Goa was commissioned.

The Company re-assesed the anti-oxidants project at Goa both from the

point of view of the devaluation of Rupee and the new import policy

which had affected the business conditions to a large extent.

The Company, issued 15.5% secured non-convertible debentures

aggregating Rs. 1000 lakhs on private placement basis. These are

redeemable at a premium of 5% in three equal instalments after six

years from the date of allotment of debentures.

The new monocrotophos plant was commissioned at Santa Monica Works.

The production activities at the Bhandup plant were suspended due to

continued loss for the last 10 years.

The project to manufacture anti-oxidants at Goa were to be

implemented in phases. During the year, diazinon based formulation

which would be useful as a soil insecticide as well as for control of

important pests in rice, cotton and vegetable crop was proposed to be

launched.

During the year Cibaca Gel toothpaste was introduced. The

Pharmaceutical division introduced Nitroderm-TTS which is used by

angina patients. The performance of agricultural division was affected

due to reduced import duty on pesticides and intermediates and

reduction in excise duty on intermediates. This division was divided

into Crop Protection and Animal Health division.

The Company entered into a joint venture agreement with Ciba-Geigy

Ltd., Switzerland and Chong Kun Dang Corporation, South Korean to

establish a joint venture company Ciba CKD Biochem Ltd to manufacture

anti-Tuberculosis drug Rifampicin. The plant was to be set up at

Mahad, Maharashtra with an installed capacity of 125 tonnes per annum.

Protexin and ESB 3, the new products were introduced.

The new tinopal CBS-X plant was commissioned with a production

capacity of 1000 tonnes per annum along with a state of the art

chemical waste incinerator plant.

1995 - The Company introduced three new products and two line

extension. The Combi-Pack, 4D, which contain 4 essential drugs viz.

Isoniazid, Rifampicin, Pyrazinamide and Ethambutol and Ebutol were

launched. Besides these Regestrone HRT and PZA suspension were also

introduced.

Effective from 29th March, Ciba CKD Biochem Ltd. became a subsidiary

of the Company. The shareholders of Cibi-Geigy AG and Sandoz AG

approved for the merger of two companies to form a new company

`Novartis'. Novartis would hold a premier position in its core

business - Pharmaceuticals, agribusiness and Nutrition. It was also

proposed to demerge the speciality chemicals business of Ciba.

The following new products were added during the year in the pharma

division. (1) Lamisil(R) - for treatment of fungal skin and nail

infections. (2) Leponex(R) - for schizopherenic patients non responsive

to classical neuroleptics. (3) Lioresal - an anti-spastic muscle

relaxant in treatment of spastic conditions. (4) Orfiz - an oral

rehydration salt, a user friendly effervescent ORS tablet. (5)

Parlodel(R) - for infertility and gynaecological disorders. (6)

Voltaflam - a fast acting analgesic for acute painful conditions.

During the year, the Company proposed to close down its undertaking

at Kandla that was set up to cater exclusively to the export business

in USSR.

During December, approvals were reserved for restructuring business

operations of the company by denerging. Approval was received for

subdivision of company's shares from existing Rs 100 per shares into 10

equity shares of Rs 10 each and for exchange of 15 Sandoz India Ltd.

shares for 10 shares of Novartis India Ltd.

The allotment of shares took place: 1. For every one original shares

of Rs. 100 each held in Hindustan Ciba-Greigy Ltd. on 4.11.1997,

sharehodlers would received 5 shares of Rs 10 each in Ciba Geigy

Speciality Chemicals (India) Ltd. 2. For every one sub-divided shares

of 10 held in Hindustan Ciba-Geigy Ltd. on 4.11.1997 shareholders will

secure 1 share of Rs 10 each in Novartis India Ltd. 3. For every 15

shares held in Sandoz (India) Ltd. on 23.10.1997, shareholder will

receive 10 shares of Rs 10 each in Novartis India Ltd.

The company introduced Topik, a speciality herbicide for wheat.

While consolidating its presence in the metro markets, the company

expanded its presence in additional towns and cities to extend its

reach in the domestic market.

The joint venture, Indo-Swiss Chemicals Ltd, will market polyester

and celluloid dyes to be manufactured initially by IDI at its Kalyan

and Ranoli plants in Maharashtra and Gujarat.

Hindustan Ciba-Geigy has trimmed its labour force by 13 per cent and

more workers are likely to accept the voluntary retirement scheme (VRS)

offered by the company.

The merger of Sandoz India (SIL) with Hindustan Ciba Geigy (HCG) has

taken a new turn even as the Indian affiliates of Ciba-Geigy and

Sandoz, both based in Basle, Switzerland, have begun the integration

process to form Novartis India.

Walden, a US private equity fund, is picking up an equity stake in

Ciba-CKD Biochem, a joint venture between Novartis, Switzerland,

Hindustan Ciba-Geigy and Korean fermentation major Chong Kun Dang

(CKD).

Hindustan Ciba Geigy and Sandoz (India) which are on the verge of

merging formally to form Novartis (India) are in moves to transfer

their combined development team to Novartis Enterprises Private Limited

(NEPL), a 100 per cent Indian subsidiary of Novartis AG, the Novartis

parent company.

Novartis (India)'s pharmaceutical business is likely to get a bonus

addition in November this year with the return to its portfolio of

cough and cold preparation Triaminic.

The board of Novartis India has approved transfer of the company's

29.22 lakh (9.17 per cent) equity shares held by Ciba India Pvt Ltd in

favour of Novartis AG of Switzerland.

Novartis India Ltd is close to finalising its first acquisition in

India. The company, through its eyecare business, CibaVision, is

buying an eyedrop brand called Clearine from Optrex Ltd, a part of the

United Breweries group.

The Company has firmed up plans to spin off its agribusiness into a

separate entity, Novartis Agribusiness India Pvt. Ltd.

The Company's shareholders are being offered one equity share of Rs 5

each in NAIPL for every one fully-paid equity share of Rs 5 held in

Novartis India.

Novartis India, the Indian subsidiary of the Swiss pharma giant, has

become a signatory to the Global Working Alliance on Tuberculosis drug

development, paving way for its greater involvement in anti-TB drug

research.

The Compay has launched Calcium Sandoz as an over-the-counter product

in India in two flavours, American Ice Cream and Orange.

The P1 + rating assigned to the Rs 50-crore CP programme of Novartis

India Ltd is reaffirmed.

Novartis India Ltd. together with Ciba Speciality Chemicals India

Ltd. signed a letter of intent with Kingston Properties Private Ltd.

for the sale of their rights and interests in their properties at

Goregaon in Mumbai.

The Board of Directors of Novartis India Ltd announced changes in its composition effective November 01, 2002. Dr R Thompson who moves to a new assignment with Novartis USA, cases to be a Director. Mr R Sahani, CEO- Pharma will succeed Dr Thompson as Vice Chairman and Managing Director. Asha Mirchnandani Chief Financial Officer will be inducted on the Board as Executive Finance Director.

Novartis India Ltd has announced the appointment of Anil Matai as the Chief Executive

Officer, Pharmaceuticals.

Novartis India Ltd has unveiled Myfortic - an enteric-coated advanced formulation under

the immunosuppresant category.

Novartis announced it has changed its import currency to US Dollar from swis Franc.

Completed formalities for transfer of its third plot of land situated at Goregaon, to Kingston Properties Private Ltd on receipt of consideration of Rs 171.07 million

Charak Pharma has inked an alliance with multinational pharma major Novartis India for the promotion of three animal healthcare products from the Charak stable.

The Switzerland-based Novartis Pharma AG has established a software development centre at Mumbai.

Novartis establishes third plant in Mumbai

Biocon's R&D subsidiary, Syngene International, has announced that it has entered into a contract research agreement with Novartis' research and development arm, the Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research Inc

Novartis rolls out new spray 'Otrivin-O'

Novartis India members approve sell of Rifampicin bulk drug business, by Postal Ballot.

Patent application for blood cancer drug is within range says Novartis.

The 50:50 joint venture between Chiron Vaccines and Panacea would be benefited if Novartis finally picks up the balance equity in the US-based company.

Hikal's Vice-Chairman and Managing Director Mr Jai Hiremath has been appointed as Director on the board of Novartis India Ltd.

Dr. P Jager has been appointed as Director and succeeds Dr. Schillinger as the Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Novartis India Ltd has given the following details regardind E-mail ID of the grievance redressal division / compliance officer:

1. Mr. Hemang Maniar Company Secretary & Head Investor Relations

Email ID

[email protected]

2. Ms. Marylou D'Souza Legal & Secretarial Assistant

Email ID

[email protected]

Novartis announced that officials from the European Commission (EC) have approved its meningitis vaccine - Menveo.

Novartis bets on rural sales initiative ‘Arogya Parviar’ to double its reach in India.

Novartis India has recommended dividend of Rs. 10/- per equity share of Rs. 5 each.

Novartis India has recommended dividend Rs 10/- per equity share of Rs .5 each

Novartis India has recommended dividend Rs 10/- per equity share of Rs .5 each

Novartis India has recommended dividend Rs 10/- per equity share of Rs .5 each

Novartis is featured as one of the 2016 "Top 100 Global Innovators"

Novartis is proud to once again rank #2 in the FORTUNE World's Most Admired Companies Pharmaceuticals Industry list.

Novartis ranks third in 2016 Access to Medicine Index

Two Novartis products receive 2016 Prix Galien Foundation Awards

Novartis received an A- rating and is recognized among category leaders in healthcare in the 2016 CDP Climate Score.

Novartis on FORTUNE's list of the World's Most Admired Companies 2017.

Novartis ranks second in 2018 Access to Medicine Index.

Novartis recognized with Learning Strategy Innovation Award 2019.

Novartis makes the 2019 Top Employer list from Science Magazine.

Novartis launches Biome India, a digital innovation hub in Hyderabad.

Novartis receives bronze award for best People Development Program 2020.

Novartis is recognized as a Global Top Employer for 2021.

Novartis ranks second in 2021 Access to Medicine Index.