Ludwigshafen, Germany
November 28, 2012
- New global business unit Functional Crop Care established
- Integration plans will be developed jointly
- Biological seed treatment solutions complement BASF’s crop protection portfolio
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.
“The acquisition fits very well with our long-term growth strategy. It will provide our customers with an even broader range of innovative solutions for agriculture. And it also provides our new colleagues with access to BASF’s global R&D platform as well as new markets and customers,” said Dr. Andreas Kreimeyer, member of BASF’s Board of Executive Directors responsible for the Agricultural Solutions segment and Research Executive Director.
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.
“Now we are focused on an integration which is as seamless as possible for our customers and our employees,” said Markus Heldt, President of BASF’s Crop Protection division. “Becker Underwood will be a cornerstone of our Functional Crop Care unit and we are looking forward to further developing our business together with our new colleagues.”
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.
Interview: Markus Heldt on the acquisition of Becker Underwood
Markus Heldt, President of BASF’s Crop Protection division, explains details of the acquisition of Becker Underwood.
Why is BASF acquiring Becker Underwood?
In line with our “We create chemistry” strategy, the Crop Protection division aims to innovate to make our customers in agriculture more successful. With the planned acquisition of Becker Underwood, we are able to take the next step towards this goal: We will be expanding our technology base in Functional Crop Care and accelerating our global growth strategy in crop protection. In a new strategic global business unit Functional Crop Care, we will complement BASF’s 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 the competencies of Becker Underwood. By combining chemical crop protection with biological solutions we will be able to provide farmers with sustainable solutions from seed to foliar crop protection, and we will strengthen and broaden our existing relationships to seed companies. At the same time, the deal will make BASF a leading global provider of biological seed treatments.
What is the strength of the Becker Underwood business?
The employees of Becker Underwood are experts in developing and marketing sustainable solutions for farmers. Their outstanding technology of combining inoculants , biological seed protection and polymer coatings on the seed is unique in the industry and is the result of great experience and team work. Furthermore, BASF will be able to profit and learn from Becker Underwood’s fermentation expertise for agricultural products, leveraging existing and newly started research activities and thus adding value to BASF as one company.
After the signing that has taken place, what are the next steps in this process?
Well, first of all we have to remind ourselves that we have signed the contract but we are not yet one company. This will only be possible after Legal Closing, when we’ve achieved the approval of the merger control authorities.
Until that time we will run the companies independently. The integration team comprising both BASF and Becker Underwood employees will develop a detailed integration plan, with the target of completing the structural integration by the end of 2013.
BASF schließt Akquisition von Becker Underwood ab
- Neue globale Geschäftseinheit Functional Crop Care etabliert
- Integrationspläne werden gemeinsam entwickelt
- Lösungen zur biologischen Saatgutbehandlung ergänzen das Pflanzenschutzmittel-Portfolio der BASF
Die BASF hat die Akquisition von Becker Underwood von der US-amerikanischen Beteiligungsgesellschaft Norwest Equity Partners abgeschlossen. Der Kaufpreis beträgt 1,02 Milliarden US$ (785 Millionen €). Durch den Erwerb wird BASF zu einem führenden weltweiten Anbieter von Technologien zur biologischen Saatgutbehandlung sowie von Pigmenten und Polymeren zur Saatgutbehandlung. Die BASF erweitert außerdem ihr Produkt-portfolio in den Bereichen biologischer Pflanzenschutz, Gartenbau, Tierernährung und Landschaftsgestaltung.
„Die Akquisition passt ausgezeichnet zu unserer langfristigen Wachstumsstrategie. Unsere Kunden erhalten Zugang zu einer noch größeren Bandbreite an innovativen Lösungen für die Landwirtschaft. Und unsere neuen Kollegen erhalten Zugang zur globalen F&E-Plattform der BASF sowie zu neuen Märkten und Kunden“, sagt Dr. Andreas Kreimeyer, Mitglied des Vorstands der BASF und verantwortlich für das Segment Agricultural Solutions sowie Sprecher der Forschung.
In den kommenden Monaten wird ein gemeinsames Team aus Mitarbeitern von BASF und Becker Underwood einen detaillierten Integrationsplan ausarbeiten. Die meisten Aktivitäten von Becker Underwood werden in der neu geschaffenen globalen Geschäftseinheit Functional Crop Care aufgehen und damit Teil des BASF-Unternehmensbereichs Crop Protection werden. In dieser neuen Einheit bündelt die BASF ihre bestehenden Forschungs-, Entwicklungs- und Marketingaktivitäten auf den Gebieten Saatgutbehandlung, biologischer Pflanzenschutz, Pflanzengesundheit sowie Wasser- und Nährstoffmanagement mit den Aktivitäten von Becker Underwood. Das Tierernährungsgeschäft von Becker Underwood wird in den BASF-Unternehmensbereich Nutrition & Health integriert.
Die neue globale Geschäftseinheit Functional Crop Care wird zum 1. Januar 2013 ihre Arbeit aufnehmen. Die Leitung übernimmt Dr. Jürgen Huff als Senior Vice President.
Dr. Peter Innes, derzeit CEO von Becker Underwood, wird die Position eines Global Senior Advisor für den Unternehmensbereich Crop Protection übernehmen. Er wird die Integration von Becker Underwood in die BASF und den Aufbau der Einheit Functional Crop Care begleiten.
„Jetzt konzentrieren wir uns auf eine für unsere Kunden und Mitarbeiter möglichst reibungslose Integration“, sagt Markus Heldt, Leiter des BASF-Unternehmensbereichs Crop Protection. „Becker Underwood wird ein Eckpfeiler unserer Einheit Functional Crop Care, und wir freuen uns darauf, unser Geschäft gemeinsam mit unseren neuen Kollegen weiterzuentwickeln.“
Der BASF-Unternehmensbereich Crop Protection erzielte im Jahr 2011 einen Umsatz von rund 4,2 Milliarden € und erwartet 2012 erneut ein Rekordjahr. Mit ihren Produkten und Dienstleistungen hilft die BASF Landwirten, den Ertrag und die Qualität ihrer Erzeugnisse zu verbessern.
BASF conclui aquisição da Becker Underwood
- Estabelecida a nova unidade de negócios global chamada Soluções Funcionais para a Agricultura
- Plano de integração será desenvolvido conjuntamente
- Soluções para tratamento biológico de sementes complementa o portifólio da BASF em proteção de cultivos
A BASF concluiu a aquisição da Becker Underwood junto à Norwest Equity Partners, uma empresa norte-americana de investimentos com foco em private equity, por um preço de US$ 1,02 bilhão (€785 milhões). Com essa aquisição, a BASF é agora a provedora líder mundial em tecnologias para o tratamento biológico de sementes, corantes e polímeros. A empresa também ampliou seu portifólio de produtos nas áreas de proteção biológica de cultivos, nutrição animal e paisagismo.
"A aquisição está totalmente integrada com a nossa estratégia de crescimento em longo prazo. Ela fornecerá aos nossos clientes uma série ainda mais ampla de soluções inovadoras para a agricultura. E também proporciona aos nossos novos colegas o acesso à plataforma de pesquisa e desenvolvimento global da BASF, bem como novos mercados e clientes", afirmou Dr. Andreas Kreimeyer, Membro da Junta Diretiva da BASF e Diretor Executivo de Pesquisa do grupo, responsável também pelo segmento de Soluções para a Agricultura da companhia.
Nos próximos meses, um plano de integração detalhado será desenvolvido por uma equipe formada por profissionais da BASF e da Becker Underwood. A maioria dos negócios da Becker Underwood se juntará à recém-criada unidade de negócios global de Soluções Funcionais para a Agricultura (Functional Crop Care) como parte da Divisão de Proteção de Cultivos da BASF. Nesta nova unidade, a BASF unirá suas atividades existentes de pesquisa, desenvolvimento e marketing nas áreas de sementes, biológicos e tecnologias para manejo adequado de água e nutrientes às atividades da Becker Underwood. O negócio de nutrição animal da Becker Underwood será integrado à Divisão de Nutrição e Saúde da BASF.
A nova unidade de negócio global de Soluções Funcionais para a Agricultura (Functional Crop Care) será instituída efetivamente a partir de 1o de janeiro de 2013, sendo liderada pelo Dr. Jürgen Huff, Vice-presidente sênior.
O Dr. Peter Innes, atualmente CEO da Becker Underwood, aceitou a posição de Conselheiro sênior global da Divisão de Proteção de Cultivos. Ele apoiará a integração da Becker Underwood à BASF e a implementação da unidade de Soluções Funcionais para a Agricultura (Functional Crop Care).
"Agora estamos focados em uma integração o mais adequada possível para os nossos clientes e colaboradores", afirmou Markus Heldt, Presidente Mundial da Divisão de Proteção de Cultivos da BASF. "A Becker Underwood será um elemento fundamental de nossa unidade de Soluções Funcionais para a Agricultura e estamos ansiosos por desenvolver nossos negócios juntamente com os novos colegas."
Em 2011, a Divisão de Proteção de Cultivos da BASF registrou vendas de cerca de €4,2 bilhões, e espera ter mais um ano recorde com excelentes resultados em 2012. Com seus produtos e serviços, a BASF auxilia os agricultores a melhorarem sua produtividade e a qualidade de seus produtos.
Topics
Species
