The companies are aiming to complete the asset transfer – for which no financial details have been announced – in the second half of 2022, following all regulatory approvals. The German group plans to retain its refinery catalysts operations at the Georgia sites shared with the mining operations.

KaMin and its Brazilian affiliate CADAM supply performance minerals to a broad spectrum of end-use markets that include building & construction, automotive & catalyst, agriculture, health & beauty, packaging and specialty & graphic paper. The company mines, produces and distributes from its three Georgia sites at Macon, Sandersville and Wrens and additionally operates production and converting facilities in Brazil and Belgium.

Markus Kamieth, BASF managing board member with responsibility for the Industrial Solutions segment, said the planned transaction is an important toward the chemical giant’s effort to refocus its portfolio.  Performance Chemicals president Thomas Kloster added that the “well positioned business” will have a “more conducive” environment for growth as part of a dedicated minerals player.

“The acquisition of BASF’s kaolin business is a transformative step forward in KaMin’s strategy, said Michael W. Nelson, the company’s president and CEO Officer, noting that the business to be added is complementary to its own. “By combining BASF’s calcine portfolio with KaMin’s hydrous products, we will be able to provide a compelling suite of kaolin-based performance mineral solutions to our distributor partners and customers globally.”

Author: Dede Williams, Freelance Journalist