A Tradition of Excellence

The roots of Ciba date back to 1758 when J.R. Geigy Ltd., the oldest chemicals company in Basel, began trading in chemicals and dyes. In 1970, Geigy merged with Ciba ─ a Basel‑based chemicals company founded in 1884 ─ to form Ciba‑Geigy Ltd.

Ciba‑Geigy Ltd. was a leading worldwide biological and chemicals group dedicated to satisfying needs in three diverse areas: healthcare, agriculture and industry. In March 1996, Ciba‑Geigy and the pharmaceuticals company Sandoz merged and formed one of the world’s largest life sciences groups ─ Novartis. As a result of this merger, the specialty chemicals divisions were spun off as Ciba Specialty Chemicals Inc. on January 1, 1997. The company adopted the name Ciba Inc. in 2007.

Ciba benefits from a rich heritage of innovation and excellence dating back to 1758.

1758
Johann Rudolf Geigy-Gemuseus (1733 ─ 1793) begins trading in “Materials, Chemicals, Dyes and Drugs of all kinds” in Basel.

1857
Johann Rudolf Geigy-Merian (1830 ─ 1917) and Johann Muller-Pack acquire a site in Basel, where they build a dyewood mill and a dye extraction plant. Only two years later, they begin the production of synthetic fuchsine.

1859
Alexander Clavel (1805 ─ 1873) takes up the production of fuchsine in his factory for silk dyeing works in Basel. In 1864, a new site for the production of synthetic dyes is constructed, and
in 1873, Clavel sells his dye factory to the new company Bindschedler & Busch.

1884
Bindschedler & Busch is transformed into a joint-stock company with the name “Gesellschaft für Chemische Industrie Basel” (Company for Chemical Industry Basel). The abbreviation “CIBA” becomes so widespread that it is adopted as the company’s name in 1945.

1901
Geigy is transformed into a public limited company and in 1914, the name of the company is changed to J.R. Geigy Ltd.

1925
J.R. Geigy Ltd. starts textile auxiliaries business, which is acquired by Ciba in 1928.

1970
Ciba‑Geigy Ltd. is founded with the merger of Ciba and Geigy.

1996
Sandoz and Ciba‑Geigy Ltd integrate to form Novartis.

1997
Ciba Specialty Chemicals becomes operationally independent from Novartis and the registered shares of Ciba Specialty Chemicals Holding Inc. begin trading on the Swiss Exchange (SWX: CIBN).

1998
Ciba Specialty Chemicals acquires the UK‑listed company Allied Colloids, entering the water treatments chemicals market.

2000
Ciba Specialty Chemicals divests its Performance Polymers division to Morgan Grenfell Private Equity as part of its strategy to focus on high value-added specialty chemicals.

2004
Ciba Specialty Chemicals acquires Raisio Chemicals of Finland, creating a top‑tier chemical supplier in the paper industry.

2006
Ciba Specialty Chemicals divests Textile Effects Segment to Huntsman Corporation.

2007
The company adopts the name Ciba Inc.

September 2008
BASF announces a public tender offer for Ciba.

April 2009
Ciba becomes part of BASF.