Nirma Limited (Nirma) was incorporated as a private limited company on 25th February 1980 to undertake the business of manufacturing and selling Synthetic Detergents, Soaps, Chemicals and Allied Products. It was promoted by Karsanbhai Patel as his pet project. The Company is engaged in the consumer goods and industrial products sector, having major manufacturing plants for production of various products includes Soda Ash, Linear Alkyl Benzene, Soaps, Detergents, Edible Salt, Industrial Salt and Others (Alfa Olefin Sulfonate, Sulfuric Acid, Glycerin and Single Super Phosphate). Also having separate unit for packaging. Nirma markets its products through its wholly owned subsidiary, Nirma Consumer Care Limited.
The Company went to public in the year of 1993 as overcome from the status of deemed public limited. The Company came out with its maiden public issue of Equity Shares in the year 1994. During the same year, Nirma also ventured into manufacture of Fatty Acid, Glycerine, Toilet Soaps, Sulphuric Acid and Alfa Olefin Sulphonate (AOS). In 1995, the company had entered into an Agreement with Humphrey & Glasgow Consultants Ltd. for Detailed Engineering, construction supervision including Civil and Architectural Designs and Procurement Services for the Soda Ash Plant. During the year 1996, on account of modernisation, the company had successfully manufactured IP Grade (Pharmaceutical Grade) Glycerin. The associated companies including Nirma Detergents, Shiva Soaps and Detergents, Nirma Soaps and Detergents and Nilnita Chemicals were merged with the company during the period of 1996-1997.
Nirma Consumer Care was formulated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company by the company in the year of 1997 itself. Nirma had completed successfully the state-of-the-art 80,000 TPA Linear Alkyl Benzene plant in the year 1998. During the year 1999, the edible salt market was set by the company to witness a keen battle with a new entrant, Nirma Salt, about to hit the market. In January of the year 2000, the 65,000 MTPA Normal Paraffin project was commissioned in a record 18 months time. Nirma had decided to acquire the business of Kisan Industries for the cash consideration of Rs 200 crore with effect from 1st April of the year 2000. During the year 2002, the company had undertaken the manufacturing process of toilet soap under the brand name 'Camay' for its subsidiary Nirma Consumer Care Ltd which obtains license from Procter & Gamble Home Products Ltd. In the same year of 2002, the company had closed its Bangladesh unit due to low sales volumes and entered into foods category with launch of Nirma Shudh Salt. Gujarat High Court approved the scheme of arrangement for demerger of operating division of Nirma Industries Ltd with the company in the year 2003.
A tripartite agreement was made with Core Health Care Limited (CHL) and Assets Reconstruction Company (India) Limited in the matter of acquiring undertaking of CHL in the year of 2004. DURING 2004-05, the company had discontinued the production process at Pithampur in Madhya Pradesh and Jaipur in Uttar Pradesh. Nirma had obtained possession of some of the assets from Asset Reconstruction Company (India) Limited (ARCIL) and commenced production in 2005-06. Also in the same year, the company had launched intravenous fluids in the name of 'Nirlife' brand in the market. The Company had established the total purchase order commitments of Rs.216 crores for Pure Water Plant / Utilities Expansion and Caustic Plant in the year 2006-07.
The Composite Scheme of Compromise and Arrangement with Core Healthcare Limited, its Lenders and shareholders (CHL) and the Company and its shareholders ('Scheme') were approved by the Hon'ble High Court of Gujarat vide its Order dated 1st March 2007. The Scheme became effective on 7th March of the year 2007. In November of the year 2007, Nirma purchased the American raw materials company Searles Valley Minerals Inc. Nirma closed its soda ash acquisition in January of the year 2008.