dsm-firmenich announced it has initiated the process of carving out and separating its Animal Nutrition & Health (ANH) business. The move is due to ANH experiencing different dynamics than the rest of the company, which has become even more apparent “with the unprecedented challenges in the vitamins market.”

The company believes that the full potential of the ANH business could be best realized through a different ownership structure for which all potential separation options will be considered. The company expects to be in a position to separate the business in the course of 2025.

“ANH is a fantastic business that over the years we have built to be a true leader in the industry. This is a difficult moment, but we strongly believe that a separation would be better for both businesses and their employees, and ultimately generate better value for all our stakeholders,” said Dimitri de Vreeze, chief executive officer of dsm-firmenich.

A separation would enable dsm-firmenich to strengthen its position as a world-leader in nutrition, health, and beauty. By fully focusing on Perfumery & Beauty (P&B); Taste, Texture & Health (TTH); and Health, Nutrition & Care (HNC), the company can further develop its complementary world-class scientific research, technologies and manufacturing excellence. Full focus on these businesses is expected to enhance their commercial potential and synergies, supporting an attractive and consistent growth outlook alongside robust margins.

The perimeter of the ANH business expected to be separated out is being reviewed as part of this process. Given Bovaer’s critical role in reducing emissions across the dairy industry, an important segment for TTH, and Veramaris’ significant potential in dietary supplements, it is expected that both businesses would remain part of the company.

Ivo Lansbergen will continue to lead the ANH business. He joined in 1997 and led ANH since 2019.

Lansbergen commented: “We have an amazing team within ANH that has built a global leader with scale, a unique portfolio and unrivalled innovation capabilities to help our customers tackle some of the most challenging food security issues and with a strategy that is strongly focused on Making Animal Farming Sustainable. It is an exciting prospect for our world class team to pursue our ANH strategy.” 

ANH is a world leading business with the most complete ingredients portfolio ideally positioned to support a growing population through more sustainable animal farming. Headquartered in Kaiseraugst, last year ANH delivered more than €3 billion in revenues with approximately 6,000 employees. It helps its customers to deliver healthy animal proteins efficiently and sustainably whilst harnessing the power of data to make animal farming practices more sustainable, productive, and transparent. The business has a unique premix network across the world that helps deliver global products with local solutions and benefits from precision services capability.