BASF expands construction chemicals business to South China by acquiring Kejie’s concrete admixture business 

• BASF now active in concrete admixture business throughout China
• Broad customer portfolio in civil, commercial and residential construction

BASF Construction Chemicals (China) Co., Ltd. announced on December 15, 2008, that it has acquired the concrete admixture business of Kejie Admixture Science & Technology Co. Ltd. (“Kejie”), a leading concrete admixture supplier in South China.

The acquisition of Kejie by BASF is sealed by the signing of the contract.

Located close to Guangzhou, the capital of the Guangdong province, Kejie produces a wide range of concrete admixtures and intermediate products. Approximately 100 employees, including the management, are expected to join BASF as part of the transaction. Both parties agreed not to disclose any financial details of the transaction.

With the acquisition of Kejie’s admixture business, BASF extends its production network capacity to South China. In China’s fast-growing construction market BASF already operates admixture plants in East, North and West China. Mark Volmer, Group Vice President, responsible for BASF's Construction Chemicals business in Asia Pacific, said: “The acquisition is a strategic addition that strengthens BASF as the market leader in the Chinese construction chemicals industry. Kejie is well recognized in South China for its high-quality products. The acquisition fits well into BASF’s strategy to provide intelligent solutions to customers to be more successful and to serve the construction markets locally.

The new admixture plant in Guangzhou.

Admixtures are used to provide concrete with a superior application performance. Innovative admixture technologies make concrete easier to place and finish, allowing construction to continue even in very hot or very cold temperatures, accelerating or delaying the hardening of concrete and increasing final strength and durability. Customers include ready-mix concrete producers, pre-cast operators, dry-cast and concrete block manufacturers, as well as contractors active in civil, commercial, and residential construction.

BASF’s construction chemicals business has been active in concrete admixture production in China since 1988. The Kejie acquisition provides BASF with its 13th production facility for construction chemicals in Greater China. Previous admixture acquisitions took place in Beijing in 2005, Chengdu and Suzhou in 2006.