BASF to sell printing inks business to Quantum Kapital in Netherlands

ST GALLEN, SWITZERLAND/LUDWIGSHAFEN, GERMANY: Quantum Kapital AG, plans to acquire BASF’s offset printing inks business (IMEX) in Maastricht, Netherlands. Quantum is a financial investor specialized in the acquisition and the successful development of non-strategic businesses of large companies. The sale covers all BASF’s offset printing inks activities and includes the transfer of all BASF employees in Maastricht dedicated to the business. Legal closing of the transaction will be in the third quarter of 2012. The profitable IMEX business is expected to total sales of about €60 million in 2012 and is an important supplier of heat set printing inks worldwide. The purchasing price was not disclosed.

BASF sold its printing inks and printing plates business in 2004. The IMEX business was part of BASF’s acquisition of former Ciba in 2009. At the Maastricht site BASF currently produces offset printing inks and pigment preparations for the plastics industry. The pigment preparations activities will be continued. Overall, through process and site optimization measures, BASF plans to decrease the number of the remaining positions at the Maastricht site from 92 to 73 by end of 2013. Some BASF employees affected by the planned restructuring will be offered a transfer to the IMEX business, and thus subsequently transfer to Quantum.

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