Firmenich SA is a private Swiss company in the fragrance and flavor business. It employs 10,000 people across 46 manufacturing plants and six research and development centers. The company has created perfumes for over 125 years and produced a number of well-known flavors. It is the largest privately owned company in the field and ranks number two worldwide. In May 2022, a merger agreement with DSM was reached to create a leader in beauty, nutrition and wellbeing products, to be named DSM-Firmenich. The merger is expected to be completed by mid-2023. History The company was founded as Chuit & Naef in 1895 in Geneva by chemist Philippe Chuit and businessman Martin Naef. Fred Firmenich joined in 1900 and later became the majority partner. The company was renamed Firmenich SA. Originally a fragrance company, Firmenich branched into the flavor business by creating a raspberry substitute in 1938, followed by creations of citrus and strawberry flavor. Other synthetic flavors followed for use in processed foods and preserved foods. In 1939, Firmenich Director of Research and Development Lavoslav Ružička was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry "for his work on polymethylenes and higher terpenes," "including the first chemical synthesis of male sex hormones." On May 3, 2007, Firmenich announced that it would be acquiring the flavors' division of Danisco, Noville, in a deal worth €450 million. The deal was expected to move Firmenich ahead of IFF as the second-largest flavor company in the world. Firmenich's board named Gilbert Ghostine as CEO to succeed Patrick Firmenich, effective October 1, 2014. Patrick Firmenich was elected as chairman of Firmenich's Board of Directors as of October 12, 2016. On July 11, 2017, Firmenich completed the acquisition of Agilex Fragrances, expanding its ability to serve mid-sized customers in North America. On December 13, 2017, Firmenich announced the acquisition of Flavourome, an established privately held flavors company in South Africa, to expand its presence in Africa. On February 5, 2018, Firmenich confirmed the successful completion of the acquisition. In August 2018, Firmenich acquired Campus, an innovator in the application of "natural functional ingredients for protein application", which specializes "in clean label, meat, dairy, sauces and plant-based food". The research and production facilities of Campus are located in Italy and Monterrey, Mexico. At some point, Firmenich acquired Natural Flavors, a manufacturer of flavors for the food and beverage industry. In September 2018, Firmenich announced its intent to acquire Senomyx.