From agrochemicals to Syngenta

Read the PDF edition (2 pages)

Alongside dyes and pharmaceuticals, the Basel companies developed agricultural chemicals: insecticides, fungicides, herbicides and seed treatments. Geigy's discovery of DDT in 1939 was the most famous product of this branch, but Geigy, Ciba and Sandoz all built significant agrochemical businesses in the twentieth century. The growth of world agriculture, the green revolution and the industrialisation of farming created a large market for these products.¹

The agrochemical businesses of the Basel companies were later separated from their pharmaceutical businesses. After the merger of Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz into Novartis in 1996, Novartis combined its agribusiness with that of the British-Swedish AstraZeneca to form Syngenta in 2000, a company with its headquarters in Basel. In 2017, Syngenta was acquired by ChemChina, the Chinese state-owned chemical company, for some forty-three billion dollars, one of the largest Chinese acquisitions abroad.² The acquisition raised questions about foreign ownership of strategic companies, which Switzerland has addressed in its debate on investment screening. It also connected Basel with the Chinese economy. Part G returns to it.

Notes

On the agrochemical businesses of Geigy, Ciba and Sandoz in the twentieth century, see the histories of the companies. To be verified. ↩
On the formation of Syngenta in 2000 from the agribusinesses of Novartis and AstraZeneca, with headquarters in Basel, and its acquisition by ChemChina in 2017 (about USD 43 billion), later part of the Syngenta Group, see the company publications. To be verified. ↩

For general information only. This article does not constitute legal or tax advice, does not replace advice on an individual case and creates no lawyer-client relationship. It reflects the legal position as of August 2025.

English

Contact

Dr Alexander Ressos, TEP

Rechtsanwalt/Attorney-at-Law

I am a Swiss attorney-at-law and also admitted as a solicitor in Hong Kong and in England & Wales, with almost 25 years of experience.

Together with my multilingual team, including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Ukrainian and French native speakers, I advise companies and their owners from around the world on the full range of banking, corporate, commercial and tax law matters in Switzerland, including international tax planning, fiduciary services, and legal family office services including immigration & relocation or real estate investments. My practice has a particular focus on clients from growth and frontier markets in Greater China, Central Asia and the Caucasus, the rest of Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, and I equally advise clients from Europe and North America. Through an affiliated Swiss trust company, we also take care of the incorporation and ongoing administration of their companies and other structures, including accounting, tax returns and corporate secretarial services, and I serve as a professional director where required. With the support of a network of first-class cooperation partners, I also implement solutions worldwide.

My approach is to act as a trusted advisor who works directly with decision-makers, on an equal footing: I start from what you want to achieve and shape every structure, contract and tax decision around your commercial goals and how it improves your after-tax return. As “lawyers who make it happen”, my team and I stay involved until your company is set up, your structure is in place and your transaction has closed, and we remain available for any follow-on work that may be required. You benefit from bespoke solutions and personal attention, and sound, friendly and practical advice. We are not the lowest-cost provider in the market, nor do we intend to be; our aim is to deliver well-founded, proper solutions and excellent value for money.

Get in touch →

From agrochemicals to Syngenta

Notes

Setting up or expanding in Switzerland?