Rhone-Poulenc
Rhone-Poulenc, France's largest chemicals and drugs company
1858 a pharmacist named Etienne Poulenc purchased a small drug store in Paris. Soon thereafter, Poulenc's interests extended to more than apothecary supplies, and he began to produce his own speciality products, featuring a line of photographic supplies and products. This early interest in diversification became characteristic of the firm as it grew.
Merger of the Société Chimiques des Usines du Rhône and the Etablissement Poulenc-Frères to form Rhône-Poulenc
Rhône-Poulenc's business was dramatically internationalized through myriad acquisitions in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
1990 Acquired Rorer Group, of Fort Washington, Pa., which was merged with its pharmaceutical operations to form Rhone-Poulenc Rorer, one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in Western Europe.
By the end of 1993, the company had operations in 140 countries and almost eighty percent of its income came from outside of France.
Rhône-Poulenc S.A. ranks among the world's ten largest chemical companies, with interests in agricultural chemicals; human and veterinary pharmaceuticals; fibers and polymers; specialty chemicals; and organic and inorganic intermediates.
See Also
Sources of Information
- [1] Company history