BASF Wraps up Sale of US Kankakee Site
BASF has wrapped up the sale of its Kankakee, Illinois production site for an undisclosed sum to an affiliate of US private equity group One Rock Capital Partners. The sale also includes the associated businesses of vegetable-oil-based raw material sterols and natural vitamin E, anionic surfactants and esters produced at the site, which are being rebranded as Kensing.
Operated by its Nutrition & Health and the Care Chemicals divisions BASF acquired the US site and its businesses from former chemical producer Cognis in 2010. The German group said in December 2020 that based on a recent careful market review it was determined that Kankakee was no longer a strategic fit.
“We are confident that new opportunities will be created for Kensing and its employees as a standalone business,” said Anup Kothari, president of BASF’s Nutrition & Health division. BASF will retain its sterol ester food ingredient business based in Illertissen, Germany, while continuing to focus on creating food ingredients and formulations, as well anionic surfactants for the home care, personal care and industrial formulators market at its other worldwide sites.
Author: Dede Williams, Freelance Journalist
