BASF/Takeda Get Green Light.(Brief Article)

Chemical Market Reporter, August, 2000

US ANTITRUST AGENCIES are not objecting to the planned merger of the vitamin businesses of BASF AG, Ludwigshafen, Germany, and Takeda Chemical Industries Ltd., Osaka, Japan, which the two companies agreed to in July. The deal still requires the approval of regulatory agencies in Europe and other parts of the world.

BASF's acquisition of Takeda's vitamins will mark the start of a [epsilon]600 million ($540 million) investment to expand capacity for the production of bulk vitamins. This will include production sites in Asia, Europe and North America to boost the company's global presence. The world vitamins market is projected to grow at about 4 percent per year, with uses in animal nutrition showing the most promise.