BASF in OBA exit

BASF has agreed to sell its optical brightening agents (OBAs) business, part of its Care Chemicals division, to Catexel. Terms are not being disclosed and the sale is expected to close in Q1, subject to customary closing conditions. This is part of the company’s ‘Winning Ways’ strategy of portfolio management.

Catexel is the care chemicals platform of ICIG, the private equity-backed owner of numerous chemical operations, mainly in Germany. It is taking control of the OBA production at Monthey, Switzerland, and gaining about 80 employees. BASF remains a major supplier of ingredients for the home care and industrial & institutional cleaning markets.