BASF to sell its kaolin minerals business to KaMin

November 18, 2021 – BASF and KaMin LLC. / CADAM S.A. (KaMin) have signed an agreement to sell BASF’s kaolin minerals business to KaMin, a global performance minerals company headquartered in Macon, Georgia, United States. Currently, the kaolin minerals business is part of BASF’s Performance Chemicals division. Pending approval by the relevant merger control authorities, closing of the transaction is expected in the second half of 2022.

The kaolin minerals business has approximately 440 employees, including personnel in North America, Europe and Asia. It generated sales of around €155 million in 2020. The divestiture comprises the production hub with sites in Daveyville, Toddville, Edgar, Gordon and related mines, reserves and mills in Toomsboro and Sandersville in Georgia, United States. The co-located refinery catalysts operations will continue to be owned and operated by BASF’s refinery catalysts business and are not part of the divestiture.

“We have made another important step to focus BASF’s portfolio in line with our corporate strategy and found a new owner for whom kaolin minerals are a core strategic business,” said Dr. Markus Kamieth, member of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE, responsible for the Industrial Solutions segment.

“BASF’s kaolin minerals business is a well-positioned player in the growing specialty industrial minerals market. Joining a global performance minerals player will provide a more conducive environment for longer term profitable growth for the business,” added Dr. Thomas Kloster, President of BASF’s Performance Chemicals division.

“The acquisition of BASF’s kaolin business is a transformative step forward in KaMin’s strategy. The combination of these two complementary businesses allows us to further diversify our company into growth-oriented markets and augment our overall manufacturing and technical capabilities,” said Michael W. Nelson, President and Chief Executive Officer of KaMin. “By combining BASF’s calcine portfolio with KaMin’s hydrous products, we will be able to provide a compelling suite of kaolin-based performance mineral solutions to our distributor partners and customers globally.”

KaMin LLC and CADAM S.A. are global suppliers of choice of performance mineral solutions in a broad spectrum of end use markets including: building & construction, automotive & catalyst, agriculture, health & beauty, packaging, and specialty & graphic paper. The company mines, produces, and distributes its products from its three US plants located in Georgia – Macon, Sandersville and Wrens – and internationally at production and converting facilities in South America (Brazil) and Europe (Belgium).

About BASF Performance Chemicals

As an innovative partner, BASF’s Performance Chemicals division offers chemicals for various customer industries, such as plastics, automotive, refining, lubricants, oilfield and mining. Our highly qualified and experienced team with outstanding market knowledge as well as our innovation platform and application know-how ensure our technological competence to provide excellent solutions to our customers. The division’s portfolio includes plastic additives, fuel and lubricant solutions, oilfield chemicals and mining solutions as well as kaolin minerals. To learn more, visit www.performancechemicals.basf.com.

About BASF

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. More than 110,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €59 billion in 2020. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the U.S. Further information at www.basf.com.  

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