Hoechst AG and Schering AG had combined their agrochemical business to form Hoechst Schering AgrEvo GmbH in Germany in 1993. The Indian arm was incorporated in March 1994 and subsequently took over the agrochemicals division of Hoechst India.

The Indian arm is moving a special resolution, among others, at its forthcoming annual general meeting to effect this name change, though the move will also need the approval of the central government under Section 21 of the Companies Act 1956.

The company adds that if the change in name is okayed by the government, it proposes to send stickers bearing the new name to the shareholders so that it can be affixed on the existing share certificates. These will, however, continue to be accepted forall purposes, as indicating entitlement to the shares of the company. The company is also seeking shareholder approval to increase the authorised capital from Rs 5 crore to Rs 10 crore, divided into 100 lakh equity shares of Rs 10 each by the creation of 50 lakh equity shares of Rs 10 each. This is being done due to the recently proposed 1:1 bonus issue by the company.

Meanwhile, AgrEvo has launched two major products this year namely Unim Plus an insecticide with repellant action and a rice herbicide branded Rico 18 EC. Another mega brand Puma Super, a latest generation foliar herbicide, was registered in India and test marketed in the wheat growing areas of north India.

The company has also established itself as the leading supplier of active ingredient "esbiothrin" which is used in the Rs 400 crore mosquito repellant market. AgrEvo, with a market share of around 60 per cent, supplies this chemical to leading players like Godrej, Tainwala and Reckitt & Coleman.