International.
BASF has signed an agreement to acquire Albemarle's global surface treatment business, Chemetall. The purchase price is US$3.2 billion. The transaction is subject to approval by the relevant authorities and is expected to close by the end of 2016.
Chemetall is a global technology and innovation company in the surface metal treatment market, and is headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany. It has approximately 2,500 employees worldwide, and operates 21 production plants in more than 20 countries, as well as 10 R&D locations and 24 sales offices. For the full year of 2015, its sales were US$845 million.
Chemetall develops and manufactures systematized and technological solutions for surface treatment. Its products protect metals from corrosion, facilitating formation and machining, allowing parts to be optimally prepared for the painting process, and ensuring proper adhesion of the coating. These products are used in a wide range of industries and end markets, mainly automotive, aerospace, coil and metal.
