DSM-Firmenich’s Animal Nutrition & Health division is preparing to operate as two independent companies, Noviwest and Panavora, as part of its planned sale to investment firm CVC Capital Partners. The restructuring will separate ingredient-focused activities from animal nutrition and health solutions, giving each business its own strategy and management structure.
The two companies will continue collaborating in selected areas despite operating independently. The transition forms part of DSM-Firmenich’s wider plan to divest its Animal Nutrition & Health division and concentrate more strongly on its remaining businesses in fragrance, taste, nutrition and health.
Two Companies With Different Areas of Focus
Noviwest will focus on ingredients supplied to the food and animal feed industries, including vitamins, carotenoids and flavour components. Its business will centre on these ingredient categories and their applications across relevant industries.
Silvia Sonneveld, who currently leads the vitamin division, is set to become Noviwest’s chief executive officer. Her appointment places the existing vitamin business leadership at the head of the new company.
Panavora, meanwhile, will concentrate on animal nutrition and animal health. Its portfolio will include premixes, feed additives and services for livestock farming, positioning the company around products and solutions used in animal production.
Ivo Lansbergen, the current head of the animal feed division, will lead Panavora. The company’s focus will include nutrition-related products and services supporting livestock farmers and the animal feed sector.
Although Noviwest and Panavora will have separate management teams and strategies, the companies intend to maintain cooperation in certain areas. The precise scope of their future collaboration has not been detailed in the announcement.
CVC Acquisition Underpins the Restructuring
The separation is linked to DSM-Firmenich’s agreement to sell its Animal Nutrition & Health division to CVC Capital Partners. The companies announced the agreement in February 2026, with an enterprise value of €2.2 billion, including a potential additional payment of up to €500 million.
The division generated approximately €3.5 billion in revenue in 2025 and employed around 8,000 people, according to the reported transaction details. Its scale makes the planned separation a significant corporate restructuring within the animal nutrition and feed ingredients industries.
DSM-Firmenich will retain a 20% stake in each of the two companies following the transaction. This arrangement will allow it to maintain a minority investment while the businesses move forward under their new ownership structure.
Completion Expected by the End of 2026
The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, subject to regulatory approval and other conditions. Until completion, the restructuring remains part of the planned transaction rather than a fully completed transfer.
For the animal feed sector, the new structure will bring together ingredient activities under Noviwest and animal nutrition, animal health and livestock farming services under Panavora. Both businesses will have the opportunity to develop their own strategic priorities while retaining selected areas of cooperation.
The next major milestone will be the completion of the CVC acquisition and the establishment of the two companies as independent businesses. Their respective strategies and continued collaboration will shape how the separated operations develop across the food, feed and livestock industries.