BASF to sell its Bleaching Clay and Mineral Adsorbents businesses to EP Minerals

BASF to sell its Bleaching Clay and Mineral Adsorbents businesses to EP Minerals

Transaction includes production site and clay mining property in Mississippi, and mineral rights sublease associated with a mine in Arizona

ISELIN, NJ, and RENO, NV, April 6, 2017 – BASF announced today that it has signed an agreement to sell its Bleaching Clay and Mineral Adsorbents businesses to EP Minerals, a worldwide leader in industrial minerals. Financial details of the divestiture are not being disclosed. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2017, subject to regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions.

The Bleaching Clay and Mineral Adsorbents businesses are currently part of the Process Catalysts business unit of BASF's global Catalysts division. The divestiture includes a production site and a clay mine in Mississippi, and the mineral rights sublease associated with a mine in Arizona. The transaction will affect approximately 70 employees.

“In the process of focusing our portfolio on strategic growth areas we are divesting the businesses to a strategic buyer, EP Minerals. This is the best course of action for the further development of the businesses and the impacted employees," said Detlef Ruff, BASF Senior Vice President, Process Catalysts.

“We're excited about this opportunity to acquire the Bleaching Clay and Mineral Adsorbents business from BASF," said EP Minerals President and CEO Gregg Jones. “It's a strategic move to strengthen our portfolio of industrial minerals and position EP Minerals for future growth and innovation."

About EP Minerals

EP Minerals, LLC is a worldwide leader in diatomaceous earth (DE), clay and perlite. These unique minerals are used as filter aids, absorbents and functional additives serving dozens of diverse markets including food and beverage, biofuels, swimming pool, landscape, sports turf, paint, plastics and insecticides. EP Minerals also produces patented water purification media and arsenic removal products. For more information, visit www.epminerals.com.

About BASF

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has more than 17,500 employees in North America, and had sales of $16.2 billion in 2016. For more information about BASF's North American operations, visit www.basf.us.

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. The approximately 114,000 employees in the BASF Group work on contributing to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into five segments: Chemicals, Performance Products, Functional Materials & Solutions, Agricultural Solutions and Oil & Gas. BASF generated sales of about €58 billion in 2016. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (BAS). Further information at www.basf.com.

About BASF's Catalysts Division

BASF's Catalysts division is the world's leading supplier of environmental and process catalysts. The group offers exceptional expertise in the development of technologies that protect the air we breathe, produce the fuels that power our world and ensure efficient production of a wide variety of chemicals, plastics and other products, including advanced battery materials. By leveraging our industry-leading R&D platforms, passion for innovation and deep knowledge of precious and base metals, BASF's Catalysts division develops unique, proprietary solutions that drive customer success. Further information on BASF's Catalysts division is available on the Internet at www.catalysts.basf.com.

EP Minerals Media Contact:

Julie Brown

Tel.: (775) 276-2780

Email: julie.brown@epminerals.com

BASF Media Contact:

Cesar F. Garcia

Tel.: (732) 205-7650

Email: cesar.f.garcia@basf.com