BASF sells Wibarco to Hansa Chemie

BASF has agreed to sell its Chemische Fabrik Wibarco subsidiary, which had been part of its Performance Chemicals division, to Hansa Chemie International, a Swiss-based holding company with stakes in a number of chemicals companies in Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands। Terms were not disclosed. Once regulatory approval is granted, the deal should be completed in July.
Wibarco is based at Ibbenbüren, northern Germany, and employs about 80 people, who will all transfer। It mainly produces linear alkylbenzene (LAB), a starting material for linear alkylbenzene sulphonate (LAS), an ingredient in most modern detergents.

BASF explained that it regarded Wibarco as non-strategic, because LAB is not fully integrated into its Verbund concept, although it remains a strong player in detergents and cleaners. Hansa, by contrast, will be able to integrate Ibbenbüren into its surfactants value chain. It will add a new sulphation plant to the 37-year-old LAB facility at the site.