BASF SE (Ludwigshafen, Germany; www.basf.com) has signed an agreement with the investor group of inge watertechnologies AG (Greifenberg, Germany; www.inge.ag) to acquire the company and its ultrafiltration membrane business. “This transaction is an important step in strengthening BASF’s technology and innovation driven business and is in line with our focus on addressing major global challenges. The deal will further improve BASF’s position in the water treatment industry, which is an attractive and fast-growing market and helps to improve quality of life everywhere,” said Dr. John Feldmann, member of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF and responsible for the Performance Products segment.
The investor group and BASF have agreed not to disclose financial details of the deal. The transaction, which is subject to approval by competent merger control authorities, is expected to close within the third quarter of 2011. With the acquisition of the water treatment business as part of the Ciba acquisition in 2009, BASF has become a leading supplier of organic flocculants and coagulants, which are key technologies for water treatment processes. BASF’s aims to strategically bundle the products and know-how relevant to the water treatment industry by creating a strong platform which will allow the business to profitably expand its market position further.