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2007/2/27 BASF

BASF plans transformation into a European Company (SE)
Hambrecht: “Affirmation of an entrepreneurial vision of Europe”

The Board of Executive Directors and Supervisory Board of BASF Aktiengesellschaft have resolved to propose to the Annual Meeting on April 26, 2007 the transformation of BASF Aktiengesellschaft into a European Company (Societas Europaea, SE) with the name BASF SE. The company’s headquarters and chief administrative offices will remain in Ludwigshafen, Germany.

“The European Company is a modern legal form for a global company whose home market is in Europe,” said Dr. Jurgen Hambrecht, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF Aktiengesellschaft. The transformation into a European Company is intended to further strengthen corporate governance at BASF. “BASF considers this legal form to be an affirmation of an entrepreneurial vision of Europe. BASF is strengthening the participation of European employees in the company and thus demonstrates its pioneering role in the European chemical industry.”

BASF’s shareholders will be provided with more detailed information on transformation of the company’s legal form in the invitation to the Annual Meeting, which will be sent out as of March 16, 2007.

Europe is BASF’s home market: In 2006, it posted approximately 60 percent of its sales and employed around two-thirds of its global workforce of more than 95,000 employees in the region.

「欧州会社」とは2004年10月以降、EUで設立が可能となったもので、EU法に基づき設立される。正式名称はラテン語でソシエタス・ヨーロピアで通称は‘SE’。　欧州会社は登録住所の置かれた加盟国において登録され、他の加盟国では子会社を設立することなしに活動できる。
また、法的制限を伴うことなく欧州域内のリストラクチャリング、事業再編および事業統合を柔軟に行うことが可能となる。
更に、子会社の場合は親会社又は他の子会社との取引では付加価値税（VAT)が課せられるが、欧州企業の場合は社内取引となるためVATは課せられないというメリットもある。

2007/3/20

BASF Breaks Ground In China For Two New Manufacturing Plants

BASF broke ground for two new plants in Pudong, near Shanghai in China, which will manufacture polyacrylate polymers and specialty chemicals for leather tanning. The plants will provide customers in the growing Chinese market with a reliable supply of high-quality chemicals. The two facilities are expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2008. Investment details were not disclosed.

The polyacrylate polymers plant will have a minimum capacity of 30,000 metric tons per year, while the plant for specialty chemicals for leather tanning will have a minimum annual capacity of 12,000 metric tons of products in liquid or powder form. A spray dryer with a capacity of 10,000 metric tons per year is part of the investment. The new plants will be located next to BASF’s existing facilities for polyacrylate polymers and leather chemicals in Pudong. 浦東

The polyacrylate polymers marketed under the trademark Sokalan（R） are synthetic water-soluble polymers 水溶性ポリマーused in the laundry, paper, water treatment and textile industries. The specialty chemicals for leather tanning carry the trademarks Basyntan(R), Relugan(R) and Tamol(R).

BASF today (March 20, 2007) also inaugurated its polyisocyanate plant at the Shanghai Chemical Industrial Park in Caojing, which will serve the entire Asia Pacific market. The plant has an annual capacity of 8,000 metric tons and its product is marketed under the trademark Basonat(R). Construction work began in June 2005. Polyisocyanates are raw materials used in the manufacture of automotive, industrial and wood paints.

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BASF 2004/8/31　

BASF plans to invest in a polyurethanes specialties site in Shanghai

・Site in Pudong, Shanghai establishes a new level of closeness to customers
・System house, product development and TPU production at a single site
・Chinese polyurethanes market expected to grow by about 10 percent per year in the next 10 years

2007/3/21　BASF 　　　　日経記事

BASF and Monsanto Announce R&D and Commercialization Collaboration Agreement in Plant Biotechnology

・Agreement aimed at developing higher-yielding crops that are more tolerant to adverse environmental conditions such as drought
・Potential $1.5 billion/Euro1.2 billion devoted to joint pipeline over life of the collaboration
・First products to be commercialized in the first half of the next decade

BASF and Monsanto Company today announced a long-term joint research and development (R&D) and commercialization collaboration in plant biotechnology that will focus on the development of high yielding crops and crops that are more tolerant to adverse environmental conditions such as drought. The collaboration is effective immediately.


Under this collaboration:

About Monsanto
Monsanto is an agriculture company. The company is a leading provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality. Monsanto is committed to investing in products that can make a difference for its farmer customers and the land they farm. The company uses plant breeding, plant biotechnology and other applications of modern science to support its commitment to agriculture and the farmers that feed, clothe and fuel our growing world. For more information on Monsanto, see www.monsanto.com.

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2006/6/15 http://www.juno.dti.ne.jp/~tkitaba/gmo/news/06061501.htm

BASF Plant Science　干ばつ耐性GM小麦を豪分子植物育種研究センターと共同開発

 　ドイツの巨大化学企業・BASFが6月8日、モンサント、シンジェンタと並び遺伝子組み換え（GM）作物の開発で世界をリードするその農業部門・BASF Plant Scienceとオーストラリア分子植物育種協同研究センター（MPBCRC）との協力関係を拡充すると発表した。今後7年間に2800万ドルを投資、オーストラリアでの干ばつ耐性や真菌病抵抗性のGM小麦を共同開発するという。

　共同研究プログラムの一環として、BASF Plant Scienceは収量増加・干ばつ耐性・真菌病抵抗性の候補遺伝子の大規模なコレクションを利用可能にする。MPBCRCは、典型的な農業条件の下で高度に有効な遺伝子組み換えのための専門知識と特許を持つ技術を提供する。

　ＢＡＳＦによると、小麦は、世界で栽培されるトウモロコシに次ぐ穀物であるが、長期化する干ばつが、オーストラリアなどの乾燥地域のみならず、ヨーロッパでも二桁（％で）の収量損失を引き起こしている。また、真菌病も収量を大きく減少させている。真菌病に抵抗性をもつＧＭ小麦は農民の一層有効な作物保護に役立つだろうという。

　オーストラリアの2002年の小麦収量は、100年来と言われる干ばつで半減した。その後も、これほど厳しくはないとしても、ほとんど連年の干ばつに見舞われている。今年も多くの農業者が作付できず、牧草も枯れ始めている。こうした傾向は、今後ますます強まるだろう。

2007/4/13 Platts

BASF to debottleneck Antwerp cracker mid Aug to end Sep

Germany's BASF has divulged the dates of its planned debottlenecking of its naphtha steam cracker at Antwerp, Belgium. "The turnaround will start in the middle of August and last until the end of September," a company source said Friday.
The Eur200 million ($246 mil) expansion project would make the plant the largest single-train steam cracker in Europe by boosting its ethylene capacity from 800,000 mt/yr to 1.08 mil mt/yr.

May 18, 2007 BASF

BASF opens new engineering plastics compounding plant in Shanghai

• Annual capacity of 45,000 metric tons
• Strong growth of Asia Pacific engineering plastics market expected to continue

BASF today celebrated the inauguration of its engineering plastics compounding plant at its Pudong site in Shanghai, China. The new facility came on stream in March 2007 and is a world-scale plant with an annual capacity of 45,000 metric tons. It is one of the most modern compounding plants in the world today, with the highest environmental standards and the most efficient production capabilities available.


Alongside this new plant in Shanghai, BASF has similar compounding facilities in Malaysia and Korea, which are part of BASF's global network of engineering plastics and compounding plants. This network covers other countries in Europe, North and Central America. With the new plant, BASF's total compounding capacity in Asia exceeds 100,000 metric tons per annum.

2007/6/12 BASF

BASF considers construction of MDI plant in Chongqing

Plant to have world-scale capacity of 400 kt/a crude MDI
Startup planned from 2010 onward
Investment underlines BASF commitment to China

BASF is considering the construction of a new MDI (diphenylmethane diisocyanate) plant in Chongqing municipality, Western China, to meet growing demand for this product. A corresponding memorandum of cooperation was signed today (June 12, 2007) with Chongqing Chemical and Pharmaceutical Holding (Group) Company 重慶化醫集團and local authorities. BASF will now carry out an in-depth evaluation of the competitiveness of the location. The startup is planned from 2010 onward, and the plant is expected to have a capacity of 400,000 metric tons per year of crude MDI.


BASF already announced in early 2006 that it was considering building another MDI plant in China with partners. The decision on BASF’s additional joint venture partners has not yet been made, and the final choice of a site for the plant still hinges on a number of factors.

2006/11/2 BASF

BASF to mothball THF plant in Caojing, China
　・Tough market conditions
　・Reliable supply to customers maintained

BASF has decided to mothball its tetrahydrofuran (THF) plant in Caojing, Shanghai, China. The plant has an annual capacity of 80,000 metric tons and supplies the raw material THF to the polytetrahydrofuran (PolyTHF) manufacturing plant at the same site. The mothballing of the THF plant will start in the first quarter of 2007, and the PolyTHF plant will be supplied in the future from BASF’s global production network.
The THF plant was shut down for technical reasons after a salt leakage in the first quarter of 2006 and has not been started up since then.

The restructuring will enhance efficiency, strengthen competitiveness and lead to a further increase in the capacity utilization of BASF’s THF plants in Germany, USA, Korea and Malaysia.

Apart from the plant in Caojing, BASF produces PolyTHF at its sites in Ludwigshafen, Germany, Geismar, USA, and Ulsan, Korea, supplying textile manufacturers all over the world.
PolyTHF is an important component in the production of elastic spandex fibers for textiles such as sportswear, swimwear, underwear and outerwear. In addition to its role in textiles, PolyTHF is also an important intermediate for thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU), which are used for example in the manufacture of highly abrasion-resistant, yet flexible hoses, films and cable sheathing.

June 22, 2007 BASF

BASF Agrees to Sell its Minority Ownership Interest in Geismar, LA Ethane Cracker and Associated Facilities

BASF Corporation today announced that it has agreed to sell its minority ownership interest in a 610,000 tons per year ethane cracker and associated pipeline and storage facilities located in Geismar, Louisiana. Subject to regulatory approvals, Williams Olefins, L.L.C., will purchase BASF's ownership interest in the cracker and PetroLogistics, LLC, will purchase BASF's interest in the associated pipeline and storage facilities. Terms of the agreements were not disclosed. Closing is expected to take place in July. The ethane cracker is jointly owned by GE Petrochemicals, Williams Olefins, L.L.C. and BASF, and operated by Williams Olefins, L.L.C. The pipeline and storage facilities are jointly owned by GE Petrochemicals, PetroLogistics, LLC, and BASF, and operated by PetroLogistics.
BASF purchased its ownership stake in the cracker and associated facilities in 1970 as part of its acquisition of Wyandotte Chemicals. Each owner supplies raw materials to the cracker and independently markets its share of production from the cracker.
"BASF's strategy to more closely balance olefins supply capability with captive demand is well served by our world-scale joint venture naphtha steam cracker in Port Arthur, Texas, reducing the strategic importance of the Geismar ethane cracker to BASF," said Peter Cella, NAFTA Group Vice President, Petrochemicals. "We believe our investment in the Port Arthur cracker and the latest technology deployed at this facility will provide BASF with a sustainable first quartile competitive position in the marketplace."

Williams Olefins, L.L.C

Williams' businesses produce, gather, process and transport clean-burning natural gas to heat homes and power electric generation across the country.

Williams has been in business since 1908, when two Williams brothers began a construction company. That business grew into the world's leading pipeline engineering and construction firm. Under the Williams Brothers name, the company went public in 1957 with a net worth of about $8 million.

Williams Olefins, a business unit of Williams, is the operator of the jointly owned world class ethylene production facility located near Geismar, La., where approximately 1.2 billion pounds of polymer grade ethylene and 90 million pounds of polymer grade propylene are produced annually.

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BASF/Atofina (60:40 JV)

Port Arthur, Texas

2,000百万lbs

July 9 2007 diyweek.net

BASF rules itself out of ICI acquisition

The German chemicals group BASF has told Dutch newspapers it is not interested in purchasing chemical firms, including ICI, as they are too expensive.

Board member Stefan Marcinowski told Dutch daily newspaper Het Financieele Dagblad that acquiring other chemical companies is not 'financially viable'.

2007/7/17 BASF

BASF evaluates strategic options for selected styrenics activities

• BASF receives initial offer for SM, PS, SBC and ABS activities
• BASF’s Styrenics division to focus on foams and specialties

BASF Aktiengesellschaft (BASF), Ludwigshafen, announced today (July 17, 2007) that it is evaluating strategic options for selected parts of its styrenics activities. In parallel to the evaluation process, BASF has received an initial offer for selected parts of its styrenics activities, and plans to start discussions with the interested party.

BASF’s activities under consideration include its styrene monomer (SM), polystyrene (PS), styrene butadiene copolymer (SBC) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) businesses with plants in Antwerp, Belgium; Altamira, Mexico; São José dos Campos, Brazil; Ulsan, South Korea; and Dahej, India. These activities posted sales of about Euro3.2 billion in 2006 and have approximately 1,000 employees.


Hans W. Reiners, President of BASF’s Styrenics division, said that BASF’s remaining styrenics activities will in the future focus on foams and specialties for the construction, automobile, packaging, sport and leisure industries. “This ties in with the strategy of BASF’s Plastics segment to supply its customers with highly innovative, tailor-made solutions.”

In South Korea, BASF owns a 300,000 mt/year SM plant, a 250,000 mt/year ABS plant, a 320,000 mt/year PS plant and a 65,000 mt/year EPS plant at Ulsan. It procures its required benzene from other producers in Korea and Japan. (Platts)

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2007/8/1 Platts

Germany's BASF in constructive talks with buyer for styrenics:CEO

BASF is in "fairly constructive talks" with one potential buyer for selected styrenics activities, Jurgen Hambrecht, CEO of the Ludwigshafen-based company, said Wednesday during the presentation of Q2 results.

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Plast europe 2007/8/29

Basell : Leading contender for BASF styrenics?

Basell is being touted as a leading contender to acquire the EUR 3.2 bn styrenics activities that BASF put up for sale in July.
German press reports say that BASF and its former 50:50 joint venture (with Shell) have been in talks (now stalled) about a takeover. Both companies have declined to comment on the reports pointing to differing views about the value of the business as well as internal differences at BASF.

Financial Times Deutschland

2007/8/6 BASF

BASF to increase propionic acid capacity in Ludwigshafen and Nanjing プロピオン酸

BASF is increasing its annual production capacity for the chemical intermediate propionic acid at its sites in Ludwigshafen and Nanjing by 30,000 metric tons and 9,000 metric tons, respectively. Production in Nanjing is ensured by BASF YPC Co. Ltd., a joint venture owned by BASF and the China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec Corp.). Once the expansion of the two production facilities is completed ? in Nanjing and in Ludwigshafen by mid-2009 ? BASF will have the capacity to make 149,000 metric tons of propionic acid each year.

Ludwigshafen　80,000+30,000→110,000
Nanjing　　　　 30,000+ 9,000→ 39,000

Propionic acid inhibits the growth of mold and some bacteria and is used as a preservative for animal feed and food for human consumption. The acid is also widely used in the production of vitamin E, pharmaceutical-active ingredients, crop protection agents and solvents.

2007/8/27 BASF

BASF Catalysts expands auto catalyst plants in China and India
Rapidly growing demand in automotive industry

BASF Catalysts is expanding its automotive catalyst plants in Shanghai, China, and Chennai, India, to meet growing customer demand over the next few years. BASF Catalysts already is a market leader in automotive catalysts throughout Asia, and the planned expansions will support the company’s continued leadership in the region.

In response, BASF Catalysts will nearly double manufacturing capacity in Shanghai, and triple capacity in Chennai. Both sites’ technical capabilities will also be upgraded in order to deliver the most advanced emission-control technologies that will meet anticipated new emissions standards in China and India. Capacity expansions at both locations will be complete by early 2009.

2007/9/17 AFX News

BASF ready to take out 10 bln eur in debt to finance acquisitions - CFO

BASF AG is ready to take out about 10 bln eur in additional debt to finance acquisitions, less than a year after buying catalyst maker Engelhard Corp, the Germany company's chief financial officer Kurt Bock told the Wall Street Journal Europe in an interview.

BASF is 'underleveraged' and could 'easily' double debt to twice its operating profit, adding about 10 bln eur to acquisition funding, Bock said, according to the newspaper.

2007/9/27 BASF

BASF increases ethylene oxide capacity in Europe for EO derivatives

• Production capacity in Europe to increase by 140,000 metric tons/year
• Capacity increase in Ludwigshafen and Antwerp

BASF is at the moment successively increasing its production capacity for ethylene oxide at its Ludwigshafen and Antwerp sites. Most of the work will be performed during the next planned shutdowns in 2008 and 2009. This will increase BASF’s capacity for ethylene oxide in Europe from 705,000 to 845,000 metric tons per year. A total of 345,000 metric tons per year will be produced in Ludwigshafen and a further 500,000 metric tons per year in Antwerp.


BASF mainly produces ethylene oxide for its own use. The most important derivatives of ethylene oxide are surfactants, ethanolamines, glycol ethers and polyols.

2007/10/15 BASF

“Germany and China - Moving Ahead Together” in Nanjing:
　　BASF presents innovative products and solutions for sustainable development

BASF, Official Partner of the “Germany and China - Moving Ahead Together” initiative, today announced its contributions to the first station in Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu Province. The initiative will run from autumn 2007 to 2010 and will tour a number of major cities throughout China to promote technological and cultural aspects of Germany. BASF’s most visible activity will be a pavilion on the Germany Esplanade in Nanjing that will be open to the public from October 19 to 27, 2007. Other activities include a high-level corporate social responsibility (CSR) round table, the sponsorship of Nanjing taxis with BASF’s Keropur(R) fuel additive, and an expert symposium on city life and construction.

2007/10/8 BASF

BASF inaugurates two new plants at its Freeport, Texas, site

• World’s largest polymerization plant for polyamide 6
• State-of-the-art plant for superabsorbents
• U.S. manufacturing base further strengthened

BASF today (October 8, 2007) inaugurated two new manufacturing plants at its site in Freeport, Texas - a production line for polyamide 6 (nylon) and a plant for superabsorbent polymers (SAP).


The polyamide production line replaces a facility in Enka, North Carolina. The new line has an annual capacity of 120,000 metric tons per year, and the caprolactam feedstock is supplied by another BASF plant at the Freeport site.

The new superabsorbent polymers manufacturing facility is supplied with a key raw material, acrylic acid, from another BASF plant at the Freeport site which provides major competitive advantages in terms of logistics and product quality. The new SAP plant has a capacity of 180,000 metric tons per year and replaces existing facilities in Aberdeen, Mississippi and Portsmouth, Virginia.

2007/11/13 BASF

BASF further expands its position for engineering plastics in Europe

• Acquisition of SABIC Innovative Plastics'shares in the joint venture for PBT production in Schwarzheide
• Strong growth of the European market for engineering plastics expected to continue unabated

BASF has signed an agreement with SABIC Innovative Plastics on the acquisition of SABIC Innovative Plastics'shares in the PBT joint venture, BASF GE Schwarzheide GmbH & Co. KG. PBT (polybutylene terephthalate) is an engineering plastic.

BASF has a proven track record in Europe with firms who have co-located at the company’s two major German sites --Ludwigshafen and Schwarzheide.

JV with GE Plastics thrives at BASF’s Schwarzheide site
In 1997, General Electric’s GE Plastics Europe BV and BASF AG teamed up to create BASF GE Schwarzheide GmbH & Co., a 50/50 joint venture that manufactures and markets polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), a thermoplastic polyester used in auto components, appliances and consumer products. When the new company sought a home for its world-scale 60,000 tonne per year facility, it looked at several options. The company decided to co-locate at BASF’s Schwarzheide site because of the cost advantages there and the fact that a compounding facility was already on site. Today, the joint venture is the largest customer for services at the Schwarzheide site. The BASF GE venture is integrated into the whole energy structure of the site, and pays for site services as they would anywhere else. Executives at BASF GE Schwarzheide describe the investment as a success and consider it a well-run operation.

The purchase of SABIC Innovative Plastics'shares in BASF GE Schwarzheide marks BASF’s fifth acquisition in the sector of engineering plastics within the last five years. In 2003, Honeywell’s worldwide engineering plastics business and Ticona’s polyamide 66 business were bought and have been successfully integrated. This was followed in 2005 by the takeover of Leuna-Miramid GmbH and the engineering plastics business of LATI USA Inc. Moreover, BASF has started up operations in the growth market of Asia within the last 18 months, including a new production joint venture for PBT together with Toray in Malaysia and a new compounding plant in Pudong near Shanghai, China.

　

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May 22, 2006

More polyamide specialties

• Leuna-Miramid to be renamed BASF Leuna
• New brand concept for BASF's polyamide plastic

Leuna-Miramid GmbH - a manufacturer of special polyamide compounds at the chemical site in Leuna, Germany - which was taken over by BASF in November 2005, is to be renamed BASF Leuna GmbH. The name change reflects the complete incorporation of this site into BASF's integrated network (Verbund). The brand name Miramid®, however, will be retained in BASF's product portfolio.

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2005/12/8

BASF to acquire major North American engineering plastics business of LATI Engineering plastics portfolio strengthened with additional nylon, PBT, POM resins

BASF Corporation and LATI USA Inc., the U.S. affiliate of the Italian engineering plastics compounder LATI Industria Termoplastici SpA, have reached an agreement in which BASF will acquire the nylon 6 and nylon 6,6, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and polyoxymethylene (POM) business of LATI USA Inc., effective December 30, 2005. Financial details of the transaction are not being disclosed.

BASF will not acquire any manufacturing sites, equipment or related assets as part of the transaction. Also, no LATI employees will be transferred to BASF. For a period of time, LATI will supply its nylon (Latamid®, Kelon®, Latilub®, Latiblend®), PBT (Later®) and POM (Latan®) product lines to BASF under a transitional supply and services agreement.

LATI USA Inc. and BASF jointly expressed their commitment to a successful transition and will work closely to support customers to ensure no disruption of product supply and services occurs.

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参考　Bayer/GE

August 27, 2007 Bayer

Bayer MaterialScience is to transfer EXATEC shares to GE Plastics

Bayer MaterialScience is to transfer its shares in EXATEC to GE Plastics. This transaction will be completed subject to the approval of the relevant antitrust authorities. No statement will be made concerning the financial aspects.

With this decision, Bayer MaterialScience has opted to carry out its own independent development of polycarbonate automotive glazing, a market that is set to enjoy future growth. EXATEC was founded in 1998 as a 50:50 joint venture between Bayer and GE with the aim of developing technologies to produce automotive glazing systems from polycarbonate. gration mean it can also be used for rear windows, and open up further areas of application within the automotive industry.

2007/12/6 BASF

BASF reorganizes its businesses: Faster to market, closer to customers, increased efficiency and greater cyclical resilience

• BASF to structure its businesses in six segments
• New segment Functional Solutions provides customer-specific system solutions with a focus on the automotive and construction industries
• New Care Chemicals division specializes on customers from the consumer goods and pharmaceutical industries
• Specialty Plastics and Foams business units to be transferred from Styrenics to Performance Polymers division
• Structures at the Ludwigshafen site improved further

BASF's new segment structure (Effective January 1, 2008)

2008/1/9 BASF

BASF expands plasticizers business in Asia Pacific

・Oxo-C4 production capacity in Nanjing to be expanded to 305,000 metric tons
・Plasticizer applications laboratory inaugurated in Shanghai
・Focus on innovative products Hexamoll(R) DINCH and Palatinol(R) 10-P

BASF today (January 9, 2008) outlined several key initiatives for its Asia Pacific plasticizers business. To meet growing demand for solvents and plasticizers the company plans to expand the annual production capacity of its oxo-C4 plant in Nanjing, China, by 55,000 metric tons to 305,000 metric tons by the fourth quarter of 2008. This move will ensure reliable supplies of the precursor alcohols n-butanol and 2-ethylhexanol. In Asia, and in China especially, demand for plasticizers is expected to grow by 4 to 5 percent per year through to 2015.

At the same time, BASF inaugurated the region’s first plasticizer applications laboratory in Shanghai.

February 12, 2008 Thomson Financial

BASF interested in acquiring Albemarle for 4.9 bln US$

BASF SE is interested in acquiring the US' chemicals company Albemarle Corp for 4.9 bln usd, a 30 pct premium on its current market capitalization, Capital reported on its website, not citing where it got the information.

It said the German chemicals company declined to comment respective rumours that according to the report were making rounds on Wall Street.

Albemarle is a client of BASF.

The report said BASF would mostly be interested is Albemarle's profitable refinery operations, which account for 40 pct of its sales.

Albemarle Corp

Albemarle Corporation, incorporated in 1993, is a global developer, manufacturer and marketer of highly engineered specialty chemicals. The Company sells a diversified mix of products to a range of customers, including manufacturers of consumer electronics, building and construction materials, automotive parts, packaging, pharmachemicals and agrichemicals, and petroleum refiners. As of March 1, 2007, the Company and its joint ventures operated 43 facilities, including production, research and development facilities in North and South America, Europe, Australia and Asia. It serves more than 3,400 customers in over 100 countries.

Albemarle Corporation's operations are managed as three operating segments: Polymer Additives, Catalysts and Fine Chemicals.

Total sales 2,369 million $
　Polymer additives 39%：Flame retardants、Antioxidants、Curatives、Stabilizers
　Catalysts 35%：FCC、HPC、Polyolefin、Specialty catalysts
　Fine chemicals 26%：Fine chemistry services、Pharmaceuticals、Bromine chemicals、Other industrial specialties

2007/6/11 BASF

BASF secures alternative raw material supply for polyamide 6.6 business
* BASF and INVISTA enter into ADN supply agreement
* Proposed closure of ADN plant at Seal Sands in early 2009

BASF announced today that it has secured an alternative raw material supply for its strategically important polyamide business. BASF will purchase adipodinitrile (ADN) from the global network of U.S.-based company INVISTA. ADN is used as a raw material to produce hexamethylenediamine (HMD) at BASF’s Seal Sands site, Teesside, U.K. HMD is a key intermediate for BASF’s Ultramid A (Polyamide 6.6).

Supply from INVISTA will commence at the start of 2009, and once a reliable delivery has been established, BASF aims to close and dismantle its ADN plant in Seals Sands. Both companies will ensure that customers are not affected by the raw material supply changes.


BASF is producing Ultramid A (Polyamide 6.6) from the key intermediates HMD and adipic acid at its site in Ludwigshafen, Germany. In addition, BASF operates fully backward-integrated production plants for Polyamide 6 (Ultramid B) at its Verbund sites in Ludwigshafen, Antwerp, Belgium and Freeport, USA. Ultramid A and B are used to produce engineering plastics which go into the automotive, electric&electronics, furniture and leisure industries. In addition, Polyamide 6 and 6.6 are used to produce fibers for textile, carpet and industrial applications.

2008/5/27　BASF

BASF Plant Science and Academia Sinica (Taipei) to cooperate on gene discovery

• Focus on yield increase and stress tolerance in crops such as rice and corn
  
• Third plant biotech agreement by BASF Plant Science in Asia within eight months

BASF Plant Science and Academia Sinica 台湾中央研究院, the leading research institute in Taiwan, today signed a cooperation agreement. Focus is on the discovery of genes that increase yield and improve stress tolerance in major crops such as rice and corn. Financial details have not been disclosed.

After agreements with CFGC (South Korea) and NIBS (Beijing), the agreement with Academia Sinica is the third cooperation agreement that BASF Plant Sci-ence has entered within the past eight months. “BASF Plant Science highly values the quality of work carried out by research institutes in Asia-Pacific,” said Logemann.

January 24, 2008 BASF

BASF Plant Science and National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing enter cooperation and license agreement

・ BASF Plant Science intensifies biotech cooperation activities in Asia Pacific
・ Research focuses on higher yield in major crops such as corn (maize), soybeans and rice

BASF Plant Science and the National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing (NIBS) 北京生命科学研究所 today announced a cooperation and licensing agreement in biotechnology. It is the first cooperation to be made by BASF Plant Science in the People’s Republic of China and focuses on increasing yield in staple crops such as corn, soybeans and rice.

About the National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing
The National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing (NIBS, Beijing) was established to advance the frontier of basic research in the life sciences in China. Founded in 2003 as part of a strategic government initiative to further national development of science and technology, NIBS aims to become a first rate, internationally competitive research institution. Its faculty will educate future generations of life scientists and explore a new model for operating scientific institutions in China. NIBS currently has six plant biology laboratories with focus on research in the mechanisms of plant development and how plants respond to internal and environmental signals. Many of their research discoveries have direct implications to agribiotechnology and improvement of crops.

2007/10/4 BASF

BASF Plant Science and Crop Functional Genomics Center sign R&D agreement in South Korea

2008/7/8 Thomson Financial

BASF delayed styrenics sale because of low offers

BASF SE did not meet its June 30 deadline to sell parts of its styrenics operations because potential buyers were struggling to find funding and were offering too little.

Suitors are facing stricter requirements to provide own equity while interest rates have gone up, BASF chief executive Juergen Hambrecht told analysts at a conference in London.

'We are not selling it under conditions which are not justifiable,' he said, adding the process continues.

In February, the company said it is in negotiations with one party and that it plans to clinch a deal in the first half.

BASF has described the divestment as inevitable, saying standard styrenics will not have enough of an edge over rival products in the long run.

Jul 30, 2008 Reuters

BASF looking at takeover targets

German chemical group BASF is considering taking over U.S. rival W. R. Grace & Co, the Financial Times Deutschland said on Wednesday, citing middle management and banking sources.

As well as assessing Grace, which has $3.1 billion in annual turnover, BASF will also be looking closely at the strategy, company structure and business development of U.S. group Rockwood and Germany's Cognis COGN.UL with a view to acquisitions, the paper said.

All three potential targets have been given project names, a sign that they are being considered seriously for takeover, the report said.

2007/9/20　BASF、新しい買収？

---

W. R. Grace & Co

Grace is a premier specialty chemicals and materials company.

First Choice for Packaging Assurance
Grace Materials and Packaging Technologies provides sealants, coatings and closures to the food and beverage industries that are used in more than 300 billion containers each year.

Worldwide Leader in Construction Products
For more than 50 years, Grace Construction Products has offered commercial and residential construction products used in projects ranging from major infrastructure to minor home repair.

Global Specialty Chemical Supplier
Grace Davison is the second longest continually operating chemical company in the United States, offering discovery sciences, engineered materials, packaging technologies, catalysts and refining technologies.

We help biorefineries manufacture alternatives to gasoline and diesel that promote clean energy sources.

グレースケミカルズは米国コンクリート混和剤の最大手メーカーであるW.R.グレースの実績とセメント・特殊混和材メーカーの電気化学工業�鰍ﾌ開発を結び、多様化するニーズに対応しております。

April ２, 2001

W. R. Grace & Co. today announced that the Company has voluntarily filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in response to a sharply increasing number of asbestos claims. This Chapter 11 filing includes 61 of Grace's domestic entities. None of the Company's foreign subsidiaries are included in this filing.

Grace is the sixth major company to cite asbestos claims as their reasons for filing chapter 11 since January. Twenty-six companies have made such filings since 1982.

Rockwood

Rockwood Holdings, Inc. is a world-class specialty chemicals and advanced materials company committed to delivering exceptional value through continued leadership in customer service, quality, on-time delivery and innovative technology and is currently composed of 15 individual business units.

2007 net sales by end-use market
　Chemicals and Plastics 13%
　Life Science 8%
　Electronics and Telecommunications 11%
　Consumer Products 4%
　Metal Treatment ang General Industrial 16%
　Paper 3%
　Construction 14%
　Specialty Coatings 7%
　Automotive 14%
　Environmental 2%
　Others 8%

Cognis COGN.UL
ドイツ･モンハイムに本社を置き、世界30カ国に拠点を持ちます。　油脂化学をバックボーンに、160年に及ぶ経験と実績を有する、世界的な総合化学会社です。

自然由来の機能性食品、栄養補助食品素材など健康の向上を目的とする製品、低刺激な化粧品や洗剤、そして塗料・インクなどの原料、が私たちの製品群です。

Cognis is a leading specialty chemicals company with activities around the world. Utilizing its 160 years of experience in oleochemicals, Cognis markets innovative products and solutions for personal care, home care and modern nutrition, as well as high-performance products for numerous industrial markets.

Care Chemicals	Nutrition & Health	Functional Products	PulcraChemicals	Cognis Oleochemicals
・Hair / Body / Oral Care ・Home Care ・Industrial & Institutional 　Cleaning ・Skin Care ・Silicates	・Dietary Supplements ・Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare ・Food Technology ・Functional Food & 　Medicamental Nutrition	・Adhesives ・Consumer Coatings ・Emulsion 　Polimerization ・Graphic Arts ・Industrial Coatings ・Polymer 　Building Blocks ・Synlubes Technology ・AgroSolutions ・Mining Chemicals ・Ion-Transfer Technology	・Textile Technology ・Fiber Technology ・Leather Technology	・Fatty Acids ・Glycerin / Triacetin ・Ozon Acids ・Plastic Additives ・Oilfield Chemicals

　

2008/8/18 BASF

BASF takes a further step in the divestment of its styrenic activities

• Styrenic copolymer business to be added to the divestment process
• Styrenics business to be reorganized in new BASF Group companies

BASF is continuing the divestment process of its global styrenic business and plans to reorganize the business into new subsidiaries as appropriate. The new companies are expected to be established in January 2009.

In addition, the scope of the activities to be sold will be expanded to include the styrene copolymer business. This expansion includes styrenic copolymer production plants in Ludwigshafen and Schwarzheide, Germany as well as the styrene copolymer global marketing, sales and logistics activities.

The new subsidiaries will operate the global styrenics business independently. They will combine the commodities styrene monomers (SM), polystyrene (PS), styrene butadiene copolymer (SBS) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) as well as the styrene copolymers consisting of the Luran® (SAN), Luran® HH (AMSAN), Luran® S (ASA), Terblend® N (ABS/PA), Terluran® HH (ABS-HH), Terlux® (MABS) and Styroflex® (SBS) brands. The styrenic commodities and copolymers with around 1,600 employees had total sales of about Euro 4 billion in 2007 and production sites located in Antwerp, Belgium; Ludwigshafen and Schwarzheide, Germany; Altamira, Mexico; São José dos Campos, Brazil; Dahej, India; and Ulsan, South Korea. BASF will concentrate its remaining styrenic plastics activities on its foams business for the construction and packaging industries as part of the Performance Polymers division.

commodities
　SM
　PS
　SBS　スチレン-ブタジエン-スチレンブロック共重合体
　ABS
コポリマー　
　Luran® (SAN) スチレン/アクリロニトリル コポリマー
　Luran® HH (AMSAN)　α-Methylstyrene-acrylonitrile copolymers
　Luran® S (ASA)　styrene acrylonitrile copolymers that have been impact-modified with acrylic ester rubber
　Terblend® N (ABS/PA)
　Terluran® HH (ABS-HH)　(High Heat：modified ABS that meets the requirements for thermally stressed components）
　Terlux® (MABS)　Methyl methacrylate-acrylonitrile- butadiene-styrene-polymer
　Styroflex® (SBS) Styrene/butadiene block copolymer

2008/9/15 BASF

BASF makes offer to acquire Ciba

* Cash offer of CHF 50.00 per share provides attractive premium
* Ciba’s Board of Directors supports offer
* BASF to expand its leading position in specialty chemicals with additional products and services
* Repositioning and restructuring of paper chemicals operations to create leading supplier with extensive portfolio
* Basel to remain an important site for parts of the combined business
* Conference call at 9:00 a.m. CEST, press conference in Zurich at 11:00 a.m.

BASF plans to acquire Ciba Holding AG, Basel, Switzerland, a leading specialty chemical company, and will make a public takeover offer to Ciba’s shareholders. BASF will pay CHF 50.00 in cash for each nominal share in Ciba. BASF and Ciba have reached a transaction agreement in which the Board of Directors of Ciba supports BASF’s attractive offer and recommends its acceptance to Ciba’s shareholders. The offer corresponds to a premium of 32 percent above the closing price for Ciba’s shares on September 12, 2008 and a premium of 60 percent above the volume-weighted average share price for Ciba shares in the 30 days prior to announcement of the public takeover offer. Based on all outstanding Ciba shares and including all net financial liabilities and pension obligations, the enterprise value would be CHF 6.1 billion (approximately Euro 3.8 billion).

2008/9/15 polymer-age.co.uk/

The acquisition of Ciba would benefit BASF on a number of fronts.

In plastics Ciba's additives business would augment BASF's own, particularly with the addition of UV stabilisers and antioxidants, and expand the total plastics materials package it is able to offer. Allied to this is Ciba's strong position in coating effects which would also extend BASF's existing range.
Both companies are significant players in paper chemicals, although Ciba has had difficulty in maintaining adequate profitability, and said in August that it was "considering options" for the future of the business. Combining the two businesses would create a market leader, and enable the "extensive restructuring" that BASF sees as needed.
Ciba has a strong position in water treatment chemicals, which would boost BASF's own operations in this area.
As well as the sectorial benefits from combining the two companies, there are geographic and strategic advantages. BASF is a global chemicals company, but the addition of Ciba's portfolio, particularly in water purification, gives it potential to increase its presence in emerging economies. And BASF's global presence offers more potential for Ciba's niche market businesses, such as oil and mining. The two companies also complement each other in research and development, and the merger would bring to Ciba the advantages of BASF's upstream materials integration.
As part of its offer terms BASF has made assurances over the future of Ciba sites in Switzerland and says it will set up an operating division with global responsibilities in Basel.

チバ・ジャパンは16日、BASFからチバ・ホールディングAG のすべての発行済株式を一株当り50スイスフランで公開買付するとの提案を受けたと発表した。
　
チバは、プラスチック添加剤、コーティング機能材、製紙・水処理剤における卓越したイノベーション能力とアプリケーションの専門的知見を通して、スペシャライズド・ケミカル・エンジニアリングの分野で、BASFの戦略とオペレーションを強化する。
　
同時に、BASFのグローバルな研究、生産、マーケティング基盤とともに、重要な原材料および中間体についての共同後方統合は、チバにとって大きなメリットとなる。両社は、これまで長期にわたり、広範囲なサプライヤーと顧客の関係を維持してきた。

2008/9/15 Ciba

Public tender offer by BASF for Ciba

*	Board of Directors of Ciba recommends shareholders accept offer
*	Industrial logic: Integration into BASF will strengthen Ciba’s businesses through access to BASF’s global research, production and marketing platform, raw materials and intermediates
*	Commitment to strategically important production sites in Switzerland and R&D site in Basel
*	Fair price for shareholders

Ciba strengthens BASF’s strategy and operations in the field of specialized chemical engineering through its leading innovation capabilities and application expertise in Plastics Additives, Coating Effects and Water & Paper Treatment. At the same time, Ciba benefits from BASF’s global research, production and marketing platform, as well as the associated backward integration into important raw materials and intermediates. The two companies already maintain long-standing and extensive supplier and client relationships.

2008/10/10 BASF

Bacteria-free surfaces
　　BASF's new Luran® S BX 13042 kills bacteria
　　First antimicrobial BASF plastic

BASF is now offering a plastic that has the property of killing microbes. This material belongs to the specialties found in the styrene plastic product line. It goes by the name Luran® S BX 13042 and is currently the only ASA (acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylate copolymer) with an antimicrobial effect. The product will be presented at the FAKUMA 2008 in October in Friedrichshafen, Germany. Sample amounts are already available in the color white.

The antimicrobial material contains silver compounds that are incorporated into the plastic in order to impart its surface with a germicidal effect. Interesting areas of application for this material are not only hand dryers, soap dispensers or entire sanitary units in public washroom facilities, but also other products that come into contact with bacteria and other microorganisms and that need to be sterile such as, for instance, hospital beds, medical treatment chairs or computer keyboards in public offices. The combination with the classic ASA properties such as weathering resistance, high thermal-ageing stability, good chemical resistance and outstanding surface quality yields a new material with an extraordinary property profile.

2008/11/7 BASF

BASF looking to sell its shares in PEC-Rhin

BASF SE intends to sell its 50 percent holding in PEC-Rhin. PEC-Rhin is a 50-50 joint venture between BASF SE and GPN. The company produces ammonia, nitric acid and fertilizers in Ottmarsheim, France.

BASF's fertilizer business currently comprises production activities in Ludwigshafen (Germany), Antwerp (Belgium) and Ottmarsheim (France).
In contrast to Ottmarsheim, the fertilizer activities in Ludwigshafen and Antwerp are based on Verbund integration with other value chains.

PEC-Rhin was founded in 1967. The joint venture has a workforce of about 200 employees and in 2007 generated sales in the low three-digit million Euro range.

2008/11/19 BASF　

BASF reduces production worldwide
　* Massive decline in demand in key industries
　* Previous year’s earnings level will not be achieved

BASF is taking measures to avoid the creation of overcapacities as a result of a massive decline in demand. The company is temporarily shutting down around 80 plants worldwide. In addition, BASF is reducing production at approximately 100 plants. This was already announced for polystyrene and caprolactam. Scheduled maintenance work is being brought forward.

“We already drew attention to the difficult economic situation at the end of October. Since then, customer demand in key markets has declined significantly,” said Dr. Jurgen Hambrecht, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE. “In particular, customers in the automotive industry have canceled orders at short notice.”

In addition, sales volumes are being negatively impacted by increased reduction of inventory by customers and a lack of credit in customer industries.

“In 2008, BASF will therefore not achieve the previous year’s excellent EBIT before special items. How the coming year will develop is difficult to foresee. BASF is preparing for tough times,” said Hambrecht.

BASF abandoned its goal of matching last year's 7.61 billion euros ($9.6 billion) in operating profit

The adjustments are primarily being carried out in units that supply the automotive, construction and textile industries.

Production will be reduced at a further 100 factories, including a site in Malaysia, BASF said. Forty factories in the company's industrial hometown in the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany will be idled, as well as 10 in North America and 15 in Asia, spokesman Daniel Pepitone said. U.S. closures include factories in Geismar, Louisiana, and Freeport, Texas, that make dispersions ディスパージョン製品and toluene diisocyanate, or TDI, used in foams and adhesives. An ethylene plant in Port Arthur, Texas, is running at reduced capacity, Pepitone said.

The capacity reduction is to last until January for individual plants and may continue with shorter working times after that, should weak demand continue, the company said.
`BASF is preparing for tough times,'' Hambrecht said. ``Going forward visibility isn't as clear as we'd like. It's like driving into fog and you can't see very far in front of you,'' he said.

2008/11/22　Bloomberg

BASF Halts Plan to Move Styrenics Business Into New Subsidiary

BASF SE, the world's biggest chemical producer, abandoned plans to move its styrenics businesses into new subsidiaries after the company couldn't find a buyer.

BASF will reexamine options for styrenics and the business will remain within the company instead of being separated on Jan. 1 as originally planned, the Ludwigshafen, Germany-based company said in a newspaper for employees.

2009/1/15 BASF

BASF to change PolyTHF feedstock supply in Korea
* Shutdown of local BDO and THF production
* Local PolyTHF production will continue to operate
* Supply of BDO and THF to customers will continue via global network

BASF plans to permanently close its production facility for 1,4-butanediol (BDO) and tetrahydrofuran (THF) in Ulsan, which has been temporarily shut down since August 2008, and the company will continue to supply related customers via its global network. BASF's PolyTHF plant in Ulsan will continue to operate with feedstock from the network accordingly.


BASF will continue to maintain a reliable supply of BDO and THF to its PolyTHF plant at Ulsan from BASF's global network, including the company's THF plant in Caojing, China, which is operating with a new BASF-owned technology.

BASF produces THF at its plants in Ludwigshafen (Germany), Geismar (USA), Caojing (China) and Kuantan (Malaysia). With BDO produced at these plants and at BASF's Chiba (Japan) site, the total global capacity for BDO equivalents amounts to 535.000 metric tons per year. In addition to Ulsan, BASF produces PolyTHF in Ludwigshafen, Geismar and Caojing with an annual capacity of 185.000 metric tons.

Both units have been temporarily closed since August 2008 to help the company cope with the ongoing economic downturn, which has caused severe drops in demand for many chemicals. BASF says that under current conditions it cannot produce BDO and THF at the plant at competitive prices. 27 jobs will be affected, the company says.

2009/1/23 Shanghai　

BASF got environmental approval for MDI project in Chongqing

On Jan. 12, 2009, BASF got environmental approval from China?s Ministry of Environment Protection (MEP) for its proposed MDI project in Chongqing Chemical Industry Park (CCIP), Changshou, Chongqing.

The total investment is USD 1.18 billion (RMB 8 billion), among them, the investment for environment protection is USD 102 million (RMB 696 million). The project includes 400,000 t/a nitrobenzene, 300,000 t/a aniline, 400,000 t/a crude MDI and refining facility, 20,000 t/a MDI pre-polymer, storage facility and other utilities.

According the BASF, the MDI project will use the most advanced technologies in environmental protection and met China's standard for discharge of pollutants.

BASF has announced a world-scale capacity of 400 kt/a crude MDI in Chongqing, to meet growing demand for this product in China. A corresponding memorandum of cooperation was signed in Jun. 2007 with Chongqing Chemical and Pharmaceutical Holding (Group) Company and local authorities.

Orginally, BASF announce the startup is planned from 2010 onward depending on the time of approval, but now, the project is expected to start up in 2012.

2008/10/13　BASFの重慶ＭＤＩ計画，進展か

BASFは上海に、ハンツマン、上海クロルアルカリ、上海華誼、シノペック上海高橋化学と共同でイソシアネートコンプレックスを建設、TDI 16万トン、粗MDI 24万トンを生産し、MDI精製を行っている。

BASFは2006年1月、上記計画の第２弾として、BASF、ハンツマン及び中国側パートナーが中国でのMDI増設を考えていることを明らかにした。
能力はワールドクラスの40万トンで、2010年以降のスタートとし、いくつかの立地を評価しているとしていた。

2007年6月、重慶でMDI工場の建設を検討していること、重慶化醫集団及び市当局との間で協力の覚書を締結したことを明らかにした。
MDI能力は40万トンで、経済性について評価を行っており、2010年以降のスタートを考えているとし、JVの相手はまだ決まっていないとしていた。

環境保護省の情報では、BASFは今回の上記計画を単独で実施する。
BASFは当初、2010年スタートとしていたが、現在では2012年のスタートが予定されている。

なお、更に上流の原料については、協力覚書を締結した重慶化醫集団が供給する。

重慶化醫集団はBASFのMDI計画に合わせ、次の４つの子会社を設立し、昨年8月29日に建設開始の式典を行った。

　　クロルアルカリ：300千トン（天原化学）
　　硫酸：400千トン（建峰化学）
　　フォルムアルデヒド：400千トン（長風化学）
　　クロロプレンゴム：40千トン（長壽化学）

　　前３つはMDIの原料で、クロロプレンゴムは塩素を原料に生産するもの。

2009-02-04 BASF

BASF takes steps to optimize its structures

*Performance Products segment sharpens focus on customer industries
*New operating division Paper Chemicals established
*Preparations to integrate Ciba businesses
*BASF reviews strategic options for its leather and textile chemicals business



Details of the organizational changes as of April 1, 2009 are as follows:

BASF's new segment structure (Effective January 1, 2008)

BASF reviews strategic options for leather and textile chemicals

In addition to implementing this cost-reduction program, BASF is reviewing future strategic options. In particular, these include the formation of a joint venture or the complete sale of the business. “The market requires this step not just because of the fragmented supplier structure and the low market growth,” said Reiners.

2009-04-02 　BASF

Merger control authorities approve acquisition of Ciba by BASF
　　Settlement conditions for tender offer fulfilled
　　Transaction to close on April 9

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Chinese merger control authority MOFCOM approved the acquisition of Ciba Holding AG by BASF on April 2, 2009. No conditions were imposed beyond those required by the European Commission in its decision of March 12, 2009.

Furthermore, the condition imposed by the European Commission to reach a sales agreement for Ciba's business with the light stabilizer CHIMASSORB 119 FL (HALS) before closing has been fulfilled. The buyer is the Italian company Sabo S.r.l.

CHIMASSORB 119 FL ヒンダードアミン系光安定剤（ＨＡＬＳ）・高分子量タイプ 低抽出性、低揮散性を有する高分子量型ヒンダードアミン系安定剤であり、耐NOxガス変色にも優れる。ポリオレフィン系及びスチレン系ポリマーに卓越した性能を発揮する。顔料の凝集作用が少ない。

As a result, the conditions for the settlement of the tender offer are now fulfilled (closing): The offer price of CHF 50.00 per tendered share can be paid and the Ciba shares transferred to BASF.

The planned settlement date is April 9. As of this date, BASF will hold approximately 95.8 percent of Ciba shares. Ciba shares tendered to BASF can be traded on the second line of the SIX Swiss Exchange until April 3, 2009. Ciba shares that have not been tendered can be traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange until further notice.

2009-03-12 EU

Mergers: Commission approves acquisition of Ciba by BASF, subject to conditions

The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of Ciba of Switzerland by BASF SE of Germany, both active in the chemicals industry. To remedy competition concerns the Commission had in relation to a number of specialty chemical products, used inter alia in the paper, dyestuffs, plastics and skin care sectors, BASF offered undertakings to divest activities in the sectors in question. In the light of these commitments, the Commission concluded that the proposed transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the EEA or any substantial part of it.

Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes commented "I am satisfied that the divestments offered by BASF will ensure that its takeover of Ciba will not harm competition in markets for a range of chemicals used in consumer goods such as skin care products, paper and plastics".

BASF, the ultimate parent company of the BASF Group, headquartered in Ludwigshafen, Germany, is the world’s largest chemical company. BASF is active in chemicals, plastics, performance products, agricultural and nutritional products and oil and gas. Ciba, the ultimate parent company of the Ciba (formerly Ciba Specialty Chemicals) Group, is a specialty chemicals company headquartered in Basel, Switzerland.

The Commission's investigation revealed that the proposed transaction would not significantly modify the structure of the majority of the relevant markets, as a number of credible and more significant competitors would continue to exercise a competitive constraint on the merged entity.

However, the Commission found that the proposed transaction would raise competition concerns in a number of relevant specialised markets, namely
- DMA3 (dimethylaminoethyl acrylate - a chemical intermediate)
- synthetic dry strength agents (used in the paper industry)
- bismuth vanadate (a pigment)
- indanthrone blue (a pigment)
- SA (styrene acrylic - used as a glue for paper applications)
- HALS (hindered amine light stabilisers - used in plastics) and
- UV (ultraviolet light) filters for skin care products.

In the markets where the Commission identified competition concerns one or both parties held significant market shares even before the transaction and the proposed takeover would lead to further strengthening of these positions.

Divestments

To resolve these competition concerns, BASF proposed to divest DMA3 production assets at Ludwigshafen (Germany), Ciba’s entire EEA synthetic dry strength agent business and Ciba’s global bismuth vanadate business.

Regarding indanthrone blue, BASF agreed to transfer Ciba’s know-how of the finishing line, all supply contracts, customer lists and inventories.

For SA, BASF agreed to divest Ciba’s SA business (and the PVAc - polyvinyl acetate and AA ? all acrylate businesses) in the EEA at Kaipiainen (Finland).

For HALS, BASF committed to divest Ciba’s entire Chimassorb 119 FL business, including the Chimassorb 119 FL production assets, relevant know-how and customer lists.

For UV filters, BASF committed to conclude a UV Filter Licence Agreement, giving third party access to the technology behind Tinosorb S (a UV filter patented and currently solely produced by Ciba).

Following a market investigation, the Commission concluded that the divested businesses would be viable and that the commitments would resolve all identified competition concerns.

2009-04-20 BASF　

BASF to sell China process catalysts site to Sud-Chemie

BASF today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to sell its catalysts manufacturing facility in Nanjing, China, to Sud-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 Sud-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. Gunter von Au, Chairman of the Managing Board of Sud-Chemie AG, commented: “Acquiring syngas catalyst production in Nanjing is an important strategic cornerstone for the expansion of Sud-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.

Süd-Chemie

Süd-Chemie is a highly-innovative, listed, specialty chemicals company headquartered in Munich. With its two divisions of Adsorbents 吸着剤 and Catalysts, the Süd-Chemie Group, which has around 6,500 employees, generates total sales of almost 1.2 billion euros. Süd-Chemie holds an extremely strong position on global markets, almost 80 percent of Group sales being realised with customers outside Germany. It systematically exploits the potential offered by fast-growing regions, notably in Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

The starting material for products manufactured by the Adsorbents Division is a clay mineral known as bentonite. This clayey rock binds materials dissolved in water or other liquids and can be chemically refined to create versatile adsorbents and additives.
水を吸うと自らの体積の10倍以上に膨張し、さらに多量の水と混合すると強力な粘性を発揮する。しかも、長時間おいても沈殿せず、無機物だから公害の心配がない。こんな不思議な粘土、それがベントナイトです。
他の鉱物には無い、こうしたユニークな性質によって、建築・土木工事の施工や鉱業製品の製造に不可欠な素材として、化粧品や医療品などの原料として、さらには小動物の排泄物を処理するペット砂として、幅広く利用されています。

In March 2003, SABIC and Süd-Chemie AG formed a partnership for the acquisition of Scientific Design Company Inc. from Linde AG. Under this changed ownership, Scientific Design remains an independent entity and continues to license its processes, provide engineering services and sell catalysts to its clients worldwide. SABIC and Süd-Chemie manage Scientific Design Company Inc. through a fifty-fifty joint venture. 　　　http://www.knak.jp/big/sabic-2.htm#sd

Süd-Chemie

2009-06-12 BASF

BASF to close the Styropor (EPS) plant and further adjust its production services at its Tarragona site

• 85 BASF jobs affected
• Measures to safeguard sustainable future of BASF in Tarragona, Spain
• Iberian Styropor market to be supplied from Ludwigshafen, Germany

BASF will shut down the Styropor® plant (EPS, expandable polystyrene) at its site in Tarragona, Spain. The closure is scheduled for August 2009. As a direct consequence of the plant closure and due to the current downturn in BASF's key markets in Spain, the company will also adjust the structure of production services in Tarragona. In total, 85 BASF employees working in production and related services such as maintenance, engineering and logistics are affected by these measures. This amounts to 9 percent of all jobs of BASF Española S.L..

The Styropor plant has become uneconomical due to its relatively small production capacity which has resulted in an unfavorable cost-structure. “The decision to close the Styropor plant does not mean that BASF will retreat from the Iberian EPS market," said Giorgio Greening, head of the Global Business Unit Foams. "BASF will continue to supply the region with high-quality EPS from Ludwigshafen, Germany and intends to defend its market share”.

2009-06-25

BASF to reduce polystyrene capacity in Europe by about 15 percent
　　One production plant in Ludwigshafen to be permanently closed
　　Personnel to be transferred to other functions within the company

Effective June 30, 2009, BASF will close one polystyrene plant at the Ludwigshafen site. This will reduce BASF’s annual production capacity for the standard plastic polystyrene in Europe by 80,000 to 540,000 metric tons, what comes up to a capacity reduction of about 15 percent.

The main reason for the shutdown is the decrease in demand for Polystyrene. The affected plant, which has been out of operation since mid-April, will be dismantled. Personnel working at this plant will transfer to other positions within the company.

Polystyrene will continue to be produced by BASF in Ludwigshafen but it will serve primarily for the manufacture of the two BASF insulation products Styrodur(R)C and Neopor(R) (extrusion-based). In the future, orders for Polystyrene from European customers who had previously been supplied from Ludwigshafen will be filled mainly from the plant at BASF’s Verbund site in Antwerp, Belgium.

2009-06-30

BASF reorganizes its Petrochemicals Division

• Intensified customer interaction
• Enhanced efficiency and effectiveness

BASF reorganizes its Petrochemicals division effective July 1, 2009. The future organization consists of four (formerly six) business units. The optimized organizational structures will lead to higher efficiency and effectiveness and will open up potentials to even better serve customers´ needs. Customers will benefit from a reduced number of interfaces and a broader portfolio of the respective business units. The new clustering of businesses also comes along with new business opportunities as well as synergy effects out of the BASF Verbund.

The new organizational setup is based on a thorough analysis of the market and economic situation, which has fundamentally changed over the last years. Exemplary for this change are the important BASF investments in Nanjing (China) and Port Arthur (USA).

The details of the reorganization are as follows:

• The new business unit Basic Petrochemicals Europe, headed by Dr. Uwe Kirchgäßner, comprises the businesses for cracker products and industrial gases as well as alkylene oxides and glycols in Europe. This reflects a focus on the ethylene based value chain.
• The businesses for acrylics as well as alcohols, solvents & plasticizers in Europe will be consolidated in the new business unit Industrial Petrochemicals Europe, headed by Dr. Detlef Kratz. This reflects a focus on the propylene and raffinate based value chain.
• All businesses of the Petrochemicals division in North America will be consolidated in the business unit Petrochemicals North America, headed by Peter Cella.
• All businesses of the Petrochemicals division in Asia Pacific will be consolidated in the business unit Petrochemicals Asia Pacific headed by Sanjeev Gandhi.

2008/1/1から　以下の６セグメントに変更

従来のPetrochemicals

　　Alkylene Oxides and Glycols、Cracker Products、Industrial Gases、Specialty Monomers、

　　Standard Monomers、Plasticizers、Solvents

2009-07-06

BASF specifies restructuring plans

*23 of 55 acquired production sites worldwide under review
*Synergies of at least Euro400 million per year expected
*Fair and transparent decisions

BASF has finalized its plans for the integration of Ciba Holding AG, which it acquired in April 2009. Under the plans, former Ciba businesses are to be integrated into the operating divisions in BASF’s Performance Products segment where their potential can best be realized and developed. The integration will involve extensive restructuring measures that BASF expects to generate synergies of at least Euro400 million per year from 2012 onward. By the end of 2010, savings of approximatelyEuro300 million are to be achieved. At the same time, the integration process is expected to entail cash costs totaling approximately Euro550 million, about Euro150 million thereof in 2009. BASF will report details of non-cash integration costs as part of its second-quarter interim reporting on July 30, 2009.

2009-09-29

BASF aims to grow above market: Asia Pacific sales to double by 2020

*Asia Pacific Strategy 2020 targets growth of two percentage points above market
*Earn premium on cost of capital
*70 percent of sales to be manufactured locally
*Headcount to increase by at least 5,000
*Investments of ?2 billion planned between 2009 and 2013
*Efficiency improvements to save at least ?100 million annually by 2012

BASF today outlined its Strategy 2020 for Asia Pacific. Through 2020, BASF aims to grow on average two percentage points faster than the Asia Pacific chemical market each year. With expected market growth of 4 to 5 percent per year, this would double regional sales by 2020 while earning a premium on cost of capital.

This ambitious strategy is based on growth and new business initiatives. Under its new strategy, BASF will initially target five key growth industries in the region, will increase headcount by at least 5,000 from a current figure of approximately 15,000, and plans to generate 70 percent of regional sales from local production. At the same time, the company will invest Euro2 billion in the region between 2009 and 2013, and aims to create efficiency improvements that are expected to save at least Euro100 million annually by 2012.

“BASF has established its position as the leading chemical company owing to its long-standing commitment to the Asia Pacific region. The Asian growth markets will continue to provide attractive opportunities, and our Strategy 2020 will help us to realize them,” said Dr. Martin Brudermuller, member of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE, responsible for Asia Pacific. “The current economic situation does not change our positive expectations of the long-term potential of these dynamic markets.”

Investments of Euro2 billion between 2009 and 2013

To support the goal of producing 70 percent of its sales within the Asia Pacific region, BASF plans to invest Euro2 billion between 2009 and 2013. This amount includes BASF’s 50 percent share of the $1.4 billion expansion of its integrated chemical production joint venture in Nanjing, China, which was approved by the national government in July 2009. In Chongqing, China, BASF is in the planning phase for a 400,000 ton/year plant for MDI, a precursor for polyurethanes. BASF and the Chongqing authorities aim for mechanical completion of the plant by the end of 2013 and commercial operation by early 2014. Final approvals of the project by Chinese regulators are expected in 2009, and subsequently the BASF Board of Executive Directors plans to approve the investment in the first quarter of 2010.

Five key customer industries, new geographic markets
In Asia Pacific, BASF will organize its sales efforts around key industries in order to grow faster than the market. The company has established an initial set of industry target groups where it intends to become a preferred supplier, including the automotive, construction, packaging, paint and coatings, and pharmaceuticals industries. By looking closely at the value chains in these key industries, BASF will better understand its customers’ needs and will be better positioned to provide products and solutions based on BASF’s global knowledge and resources.

A few examples of chemical innovations from BASF already introduced for these industries include engineering plastics for lightweight cars, insulation systems and concrete admixtures for energy-efficient housing, biodegradable packaging materials, environmentally friendly paint ingredients, and advanced intermediates for pharmaceutical production.

Already present in 15 countries in the region, with significant operations in China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia and India, BASF will also actively seek opportunities to support rapidly developing customer markets in relatively untapped locations, including Vietnam and inland China.

Larger local team, enhanced R&D capabilities
To achieve its goals, BASF will implement an enhanced development plan to strengthen its existing local talent base. By 2020, BASF expects to increase its headcount in Asia Pacific by at least 5,000. In its two challenging growth markets, China and India, BASF has set up dedicated recruitment centers to manage the increase in hiring. The company will double the number of employees in research and development by 2020, especially at its two major R&D clusters in China and India. Currently, BASF has 300 employees working in R&D at 15 sites in Asia Pacific.

“Local innovation and local production are driving business growth in this region. We therefore want to develop new applications, products and solutions together with our customers in Asia, adapted for Asian needs, and then serve local markets primarily through our sites and our talent in the region,” continued Brudermuller.

Operating efficiencies with site optimization
BASF plans to reduce costs by at least ?100 million annually by 2012, increasing the efficiency of its existing operations. An important aspect of this effort is the company’s Site Optimization Project, which aims to increase capacity through debottlenecking production and by exploiting technical synergies, for example in production processes or across sites. All measures implemented under this project are expected to recoup their costs within one year.

Site optimization in Asia Pacific is ongoing at the company’s integrated production sites in Kuantan, Malaysia, and Nanjing, China, as well as in Yeosu, Korea and other production sites in the region.

2009-10-10 CCR

BASF Plans MDI Plant in Chongqing

BASF plans to build a  MDI (diphenylmethane diisocyanate) plant in Chongqing. BASF and Chongqing authorities aim for mechanical completion of the 400 000 t/a MDI plant by 2013 and commercial operation by 2014. Final approvals of the project by Chinese regulators are expected in 2009, and subsequently the BASF Board of Executive Directors plans to approve the investment in the first quarter of 2010 after finalizing all necessary agreements regarding raw materials and utilities supply and integration.

2009-10-22

BASF announces its intention to cease activities in Feluy, Belgium

* Exit from maleic anhydride production intended by end 2009
* 133 employees impacted, alternative employment options to be evaluated

BASF Antwerpen N.V. today announced its intention to close its 115,000 annual tons maleic anhydride (MA) production facility by the end of 2009 and to withdraw all BASF activities from its site in Feluy, Belgium. BASF employs 133 people at the Feluy site, which is part of BASF Antwerpen N.V. “Information and consultation procedures have been initiated today with the works council. We will start negotiations with the union representatives as soon as possible to ensure socially acceptable solutions for all employees who could be affected and to evaluate alternative employment options should the closing be effectively decided,” said Wouter De Geest, CEO of BASF Antwerpen N.V.

BASF’s MA business is suffering from unsatisfactory profitability due to overcapacity and resulting low margins together with the effects of the current economic crisis. Optimization measures implemented in Feluy over the past years have not been sufficient to secure a sustainably competitive cost structure. “A withdrawal from maleic anhydride production in Feluy would help us to focus on our core intermediates businesses and Verbund value chains such as butanediol and derivatives, as well as polyalcohols,” said Dr. Tom Witzel, Group Vice President Diols & Polyalcohols Europe of BASF’s Intermediates division.

MA serves mainly as a building block to produce unsaturated polyester resins. These resins are widely used as composite materials, particularly in shipbuilding, construction and automobile industries. MA is also used for many other applications, like water-soluble polymers and lubricants.

About BASF Antwerpen N.V.:
BASF Antwerpen N.V. is a wholly owned subsidiary of BASF SE. The site in the northernmost part of the port of Antwerp is the biggest integrated chemical complex in Belgium and the second largest Verbund site in the BASF Group. The BASF site in Antwerp produces chemicals, fertilizers, plastics and performance chemicals in more than 50 plants. BASF Antwerpen N.V. has more than 3,500 employees and posted sales of Euro 6.2 billion in 2008. More information is available at www.basf.be.

2005年 FeluyでBDO生産停止

February 01, 2010　 Bloomberg

BASF Shown Styrene Escape Route by Dow as Buyout Firms Close In

BASF SE, seeking to end an almost three-year quest to sell unwanted styrene assets, will look to emulate Dow Chemical Co. after its U.S. rival attracted bids from buyout firms to a competing business.

Interest in acquisitions is picking up in the chemical industry, a trend borne out by Dow getting private equity approaches for the Styron Inc. unit, said Johan van den Arend Schmidt, a strategist at PricewaterhouseCoopers. Dow aims to sell Styron by the end of March after an eight-month process.

Selling styrene assets would accelerate BASF’s move away from less-profitable commodity products used in cutlery and televisions as Middle East rivals expand capacity in that market. Chief Executive Officer Juergen Hambrecht, who retires next year, has made acquisitions to expand in markets for catalysts used in car exhausts and cosmetic additives.

“The deal market is coming back in a strong way in the chemical sector,” said London-based Van den Arend Schmidt. “There’s a lot of interest in chemical assets, including for instance Styron. It puts BASF in a very good position. If they want to do something, they can use 2010 to do it.”

After holding second-round bids last month, Midland-based Dow is opening Styron’s books for further due diligence to whittle down the number of remaining private equity suitors, said a person with knowledge of the situation, who declined to be identified because the sale process is private. Styron generates $5 billion in sales, and employs 1,500. The U.S. company values the business at $1 billion to $2 billion. Spokesman Bob Plishka declined to comment on the sale process.

BASF’s styrenics unit generates 3 billion euros ($4.2 billion) in sales and employs 1,600. It may fetch 1 billion euros ($2.1 billion) to 1.5 billion euros, said Sylvia Quandt Research analyst Harald Gruber.

Sharing Suitors

For BASF, finding a buyer would mean avoiding a prolonged exit via a partnership agreement, which analysts view as a consolation move. Talks are under way with a potential partner for a styrene joint venture, as a prelude to exiting the market, BASF said in November. Spokesman Michael Grabicki said there’s “nothing new to report” on the matter.

“There is a good chance some of the bidders for Styron may also be attracted to BASF’s styrene business,” Gruber said.

About 50 buyout firms have invested in the chemical industry in the past decade. The largest deals include Apollo Management LP’s purchase of General Electric Co.’s silicone division in 2006 for about $3.8 billion.

U.S. and European styrene makers face competition from Middle East petrochemical suppliers keen to diversify away from refining and raw materials. International Petroleum Investment Co. of Abu Dhabi last year acquired Nova Chemicals Corp. of Canada. Saudi Basic Industries Corp. aims to become the world leader in chemicals by 2020. Antitrust rules could prevent European rivals Total SA and Ineos Nova LLC from bidding.

Investor ‘Relief’

Dow and BASF have increased prices for polystyrene in the past two months, moves timed with increases in the cost of benzene. Higher raw-material costs and the recession that clipped orders from construction, auto and consumer-goods clients have damped margins and the value of styrene plants.

Europe’s polystyrene market shrank about 15 percent over the last two years, yet capacity cuts mean the region’s suppliers should “earn money again this year,” said Martin Wiesweg, an analyst at chemical consultant CMAI in Dusseldorf. He predicts a small rebound in 2010.

“If BASF would finally be able to sell this business, it would be a relief,” said Boris Schakowski, a fund manager at Union Investment in Frankfurt, who holds BASF shares. “The business doesn’t live up to BASF standards in terms of profitability. Still, BASF might not be willing to sell it below its value.”

Credit Suisse’s John McNulty “conservatively” estimates Dow’s Styron assets could fetch as much as five times operating profit. Dow paid 10 times earnings when it bought additives maker Rohm & Haas for $15.4 billion.

Hambrecht Legacy

Since taking the helm in 2003, Hambrecht has almost doubled sales to more than 60 billion euros. Profit has tripled to 2.9 billion euros as the 63-year-old chemist, born in the industrial Swabian region of southern Germany, made acquisitions to diversify. Hambrecht plans to step down in April 2011.

“Selling styrene may be Hambrecht’s last billion-euro- deal, and he may want to retire with this chapter closed too,” said Silvia’s Gruber. “He’s not the kind of person who likes to leave things unfinished.”

2010-06-11

BASF starts up new plant to increase polyisobutene (PIB) capacity

BASF has started up a new plant for the production of low-molecular-weight, highly reactive polyisobutene (HR PIB) at its site in Ludwigshafen, Germany, thus increasing its annual capacity by 25,000 metric tons to 40,000 metric tons. The polymer, marketed worldwide under the Glissopal^® trademark, is an important intermediate product for the manufacture of additives for fuels and lubricants.

The present increase in capacity is the second significant one within the last two years. In April 2008 BASF increased its annual capacity for Glissopal^® at its site in Antwerp, Belgium by 25,000 metric tons to 100,000 metric tons.

“In taking this step, we are strengthening our polyisobutene production here at Ludwigshafen. It also shows once again the benefits of our Verbund production network. Integration in the Verbund reduces the number of shipments between different sites, and hence the amount of traffic on our roads”, says Hans W. Reiners, head of BASF’s Performance Chemicals division.

Ralf Spettmann, head of the Automotive and Refinery Chemicals business unit adds: “With this investment, we are adapting our capacity sustainably to the steadily increasing demand and continue to be a reliable partner for our customers.”

The low molecular weight products are marketed under the Glissopal trademark. The number-average molecular weight (Mn) of the indivi are free of chlorine, and they are miscible in all proportions with mineral oils and poly-a-olefins. Because of the special process highly reactive, with the result that the yield is high when they react with maleic anhydride to form polyisobutenyl succinic anhyd reacting PIBSA with polyamines.

BYC will also develop the cracker's C4 chain with the manufacture of butadiene (BD) and isobutene, with derivatives including the plasticizer alcohol 2-propylheptanol and highly reactive polyisobutylene (HR-PIB), which is used in the manufacture of fuels and lubricants.

BASF-YPCの増設計画の内容

　エチレン：　600千トンから740千トンへ増強
　EO（新設）：　80千トン
　高吸水性樹脂（新設）：　60千トン
　非イオン性界面活性剤（新設）：　60千トン
　ブタジエン抽出（新設）：　100千トン〜120千トン
　イソブテン（新設）：　80千トン
　ポリイソブテン（新設）：　50千トン