WPCIA Washington November 17, 2021

　　KaMin LLC, a global performance minerals company owned by IMin Partners, announced it will acquire the BASF kaolin minerals business. Currently, the kaolin minerals business is part of the BASF Performance Chemicals division.

　　The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory clearances. Pending approval by the relevant merger authorities, closing of the transaction is expected in the second half of 2022. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.

　　The transaction includes production hub sites, as well as related mines, reserves and mills in the state of Georgia. The co-located refinery catalysts operations will continue to be owned and operated by BASF’s refinery catalysts business and are not part of the divestiture.

　　“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,” said Michael W. Nelson, president and CEO of KaMin.

　　“BASF’s kaolin minerals business is a well-positioned player in the growing specialty industrial minerals market,” added Dr. Thomas Kloster, president of the BASF Performance Chemicals division. “Joining a global performance minerals player will provide a more conducive environment for longer term profitable growth for the business.”