Nycomed's activities started in 1874 with import and manufacturing of pharmaceuticals for the Norwegian market. In 1959, Nycomed went into the contrast media business and established a position in X-ray contrast media. In recognition of the company's strengths in both imaging and pharmaceuticals, Nycomed was split into two companies in 1990 - Nycomed Imaging and Nycomed Pharma. The pharmaceutical business was sold in May 1999, and is today Nycomed Holding (Nycomed). In 2002 Nycomed Holding was purchased by a consortium of investors led by CSFB Private Equity, and including Blackstone Capital Partners and NIB Capital Private Equity. The company provides hospital products throughout the region and general practitioner and pharmacy medicines in selected markets. Nycomed's subsidiaries are Nycomed Pharma (Norway), Nycomed (Sweden), Nycomed Christiaens (Belgium), Nycomed Christiaens (The Netherlands), Nycomed (Russia/CIS), Nycomed Austria, Nycomed Germany, Nycomed Switzerland, Nycomed Hellas, Nycomed Estonia, Nycomed France and Oy Leiras Finland. In June 2004, Nycomed established sales offices in Warsaw, Poland, thereby entering the Polish market for pharmaceutical products.