The Company was founded by Bernard Laporte, a German Chemist, in 1888 as a supplier of peroxide to bleach straw boating hats.

[5] It sold its major divisions, some 55% of the business by revenue, to Kohlberg Kravis Roberts in 2000.

These divisions (Pigments and Additives, Formulated Products & Compounds and Computers & Electronics) subsequently became known as Rockwood Holdings Inc.[6] In December 2000 Degussa SKW, a joint venture between Degussa AG and SKW Trostberg, acquired the remainder of the business.

[7] The performance chemicals business was subsequently sold on by Degussa to Cognis.

[8] The Company had the following divisions:[9] Altana AG acquired the Additives business in October 2013.