BASF to sell China process catalysts site to Süd-Chemie

Ludwigshafen, Germany and Nanjing, China – BASF today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to sell its catalysts manufacturing facility in Nanjing, China, to Süd-Chemie AG, a worldwide leading speciality chemical company for catalysts and adsorbents headquartered in Munich, Germany. The facility is independent from BASF’s main Verbund site in Nanjing. Both companies have agreed not to disclose financial details of the transaction.

The facility produces more than 30 different types of syngas catalysts, including products for manufacturing ammonia and methanol. A transition plan for the approximately 400 employees working at the process catalyst site is being developed together with Süd-Chemie. Despite the sale of the Nanjing catalyst site, BASF remains committed to being the global leader in the process catalysts industry and the preferred catalysts supplier for its customers.

“China will continue to be a major focus of our process catalysts business. Because BASF has an extensive platform in China, we see our best growth opportunities in leveraging BASF’s assets to capitalize on the growing Chinese catalyst market,” said Wilfried Seyfert, Group Vice President, Process Catalysts and Technologies. “This catalysts site did not represent a strong fit with BASF’s other operations in China. We therefore determined that our best strategy was to sell the site as part of BASF’s ongoing efficiency and restructuring programs.”

Dr. Günter von Au, Chairman of the Managing Board of Süd-Chemie AG, commented: “Acquiring syngas catalyst production in Nanjing is an important strategic cornerstone for the expansion of Süd-Chemie in China and expanding our catalyst business in Asia. With the new site, we strengthen not only our market position in the Chinese growth market for catalysts for converting coal into high quality chemical products, but we also consolidate our position as worldwide technology and market leader in this area of business.”

About BASF’s Catalysts division
BASF’s Catalysts division is the world’s leading supplier of environmental and process catalysts. The group offers exceptional expertise in the development of technologies that protect the air we breathe, produce the fuels that power our world and ensure efficient production of a wide variety of chemicals, plastics, adsorbents and other products.

About BASF
BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics and performance products to agricultural products, fine chemicals and oil and gas. As a reliable partner BASF helps its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF posted sales of more than €62 billion in 2008 and had approximately 97,000employees as of the end of the year. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.