29-Nov-2012 - BASF SE

BASF completes acquisition of Becker Underwood

New global business unit Functional Crop Care established

BASF has completed the acquisition of Becker Underwood from Norwest Equity Partners, a U.S.-based private equity investment company, for a purchase price of US$1.02 billion (€785 million). With the acquisition, BASF is now a leading global provider of technologies for biological seed treatment as well as seed treatment colorants and polymers. BASF has also expanded its product portfolio in the areas of biological crop protection, turf and horticulture, animal nutrition and landscape colorants and coatings.

In the coming months, a detailed integration plan will be developed by a joint team of BASF and Becker Underwood employees. Most businesses of Becker Underwood will join the newly established global business unit Functional Crop Care as part of BASF’s Crop Protection division. Within this new unit, BASF will merge its existing research, development and marketing activities in the areas of seed treatment, biological crop protection, plant health, as well as water and resource management with those of Becker Underwood. Becker Underwood’s animal nutrition business will be integrated into BASF’s Nutrition & Health division.

The newly formed global Functional Crop Care unit will become effective January 1, 2013. It will be headed by Dr. Juergen Huff, Senior Vice President.

Dr. Peter Innes, currently CEO of Becker Underwood, has accepted the position of Global Senior Advisor to the Crop Protection division. He will support the integration of Becker Underwood into BASF and the implementation of the Functional Crop Care unit.

In 2011, BASF’s Crop Protection division reported sales of around €4.2 billion and is expecting another record year in 2012. With its products and services, BASF helps growers to improve their yields and the quality of their products.

Facts, background information, dossiers
More about BASF
  • News

    BASF to invest in its aroma ingredients business by expanding its global production footprint with new plants in China and Germany

    BASF announced its investment in a new citral plant as part of its Verbund site in Zhanjiang, China, and menthol and linalool downstream plants at its Verbund site in Ludwigshafen, Germany. These plants are expected to come on stream from 2026 onwards. The investment is driven by a growing ... more

    BASF shows resilience in a challenging market environment

    BASF Group has shown resilience in the 2022 business year in a challenging market environment that was dominated by the consequences of the war in Ukraine and in particular by increased raw material and energy prices. As Dr. Martin Brudermüller, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, ... more

    Efficient recovery of lithium from end-of-life batteries and battery production scrap

    BASF has entered into a long-term collaboration agreement with Tenova Advanced Technologies (TAT) of Yokneam, Israel, for its battery recycling prototype plant in Schwarzheide, Germany. Both companies agreed to jointly optimize the hydrometallurgical recycling process, leveraging TAT’s nove ... more

  • Videos

    Industrial implementation of the ammonia synthesis - How does it work?

    In September 1913, the first industrial-scale ammonia production plant came on stream at BASF in Ludwigshafen. The Haber-Bosch process for ammonia synthesis, which was first successfully operated at BASF Ludwigshafen in September 1913, was the decisive step into the age of mineral fertilize ... more

  • Companies

    BASF Construction Solutions GmbH

    BASF Construction Polymers GmbH, Trostberg, Germany, is a leading innovator and producer of construction and oilfield polymers. Our product portfolio for construction chemicals consists of superplasticizers, dispersants, plasticizers, rheology modifying agents, stabilizers, defoamers and ai ... more

    BASF Fuel Cell GmbH

    2007 Formation of BASF Fuel Cell as leading supplier of fuel cell components 2006 BASF acquires PEMEAS 2005 E-TEK becomes division of PEMEAS 2004 Celanese and investors form PEMEAS 2003 BASF starts development of HC-membrane 2002 Strong IP position and manufacturing facility for Celt ... more

    BASF Mexicana, S.A. de C.V.

    In order to be able to take advantage of the opportunities for profitable growth throughout the world, BASF is represented with production and sales facilities in all economic regions. Even though Europe is BASF's home market, the dynamic regions of North America, Asia and South America are ... more