BASF Sells Marine Biopolymers Business


BASF SE and the Norwegian company Seagarden ASA recently announced they have signed a contract to transfer the Chitosan marine biopolymers business. Chitosan marine biopolymers are used in personal care products and as pharmaceutical ingredients. The transaction is expected to be formally completed by August 2012.

The divestment of the Chitosan business from former Cognis results from the portfolio optimization following the acquisition of Cognis by BASF in 2010. The Chitosan business, including the production site in Tromsoe, Norway, will be owned by the Norwegian specialist for natural seafood ingredients, marine bioactives and biopolymers, Seagarden SAS through its subsidiary Chitinor AS. The customers have been informed accordingly and conditions have been fixed to ensure supply reliability through the transition.

BASF Care Chemicals division offers a broad range of ingredients for hygiene, personal care, home care, industrial & institutional cleaning, and technical applications. It is the global leading supplier for the cosmetics industry as well as the detergents and cleaners industry and supports its customers with innovative and sustainable products, solutions, and concepts.

Seagarden ASA is a Norwegian Public Company with around 80 shareholders. The company is registered in Haugesund, Norway, and is the holding company for Seagarden AS, Chitinor AS, Atlantic Ingredients AS, Arctic Medical Nutrition AS, and Avaldsnes Property AS. For more information, visit www.seagarden.no.