• New global business unit Functional Crop Care established

• Integration plans will be developed jointly

• Biological seed treatment solutions complement BASF’s crop protection
  portfolio

LUDWIGSHAFEN, Germany, Nov. 28, 2012 /CNW/ – 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. Jürgen 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.

About BASF

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its
portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and
crop protection products to oil and gas. We combine economic success,
social responsibility and environmental protection. Through science and
innovation we enable our customers in almost all industries to meet the
current and future needs of society. Our products and system solutions
contribute to conserving resources, ensuring healthy food and nutrition
and helping to improve the quality of life. We have summed up this
contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a
sustainable future. BASF posted sales of about €73.5 billion in 2011
and had more than 111,000 employees as of the end of the year. BASF
shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London
(BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the
Internet at www.basf.com.

SOURCE BASF Canada Inc.