BASF: Ciba acquisition to close in the first quarter

BASF expects the approvals of the relevant antitrust authorities and the closing of the Ciba transaction toward the end of the first quarter of 2009. Therefore the new division "Paper Chemicals" will form part of the "Performance Products" segment, currently consisting of "Acrylics & Dispersions", "Care Chemicals" and "Performance Chemicals", effective April 1, 2009. The current "Acrylics & Dispersions" division will be renamed "Dispersions & Pigments". This division will bundle BASF’s business with raw materials for the coating and paint industry. The dispersions business will be complemented by the pigments and coatings resins business, currently part of the "Performance Chemicals" division.