BASF Strengthens Omega-3 Position With Equateq Acquisition

LUDWIGSHAFEN, GermanyBASF announced the acquisition of Equateq Ltd., a global leader in the manufacturing of highly concentrated omega-3 fatty acids, for an undisclosed amount. The transaction strengthens BASFs position as leading supplier of ingredients for the nutrition and health industries.

Equateqs proprietary chromatographic separation methods allow flexible formulation of omega-3 fatty acids at exceptional purity levels. The company has a production site located in Scotland, and its 47 employees will be integrated into the Pharma Ingredients & Services unit, which is part of BASFs Nutrition & Health division. The integration is expected to be completed by the end of 2012.

We are further strengthening our position as a leading supplier of ingredients for the nutrition and health industries," said Walter Dissinger, President of BASFs Nutrition & Health division. By extending our product range of omega-3 fatty acids, we show once more our commitment to the health and well-being of consumers all over the world."

Increasing consumer awareness of the health benefits of omega-3 is fueling double-digit growth for omega-3 products in the years to come. At the end of 2011 BASF Plant Science announced an agreement with Cargill, an international producer and marketer of food, to co-develop a new dietary source of EPA/DHA omega-3 fatty acid available by the end of the decade. A next-generation canola oil containing EPA/DHA will enable food, pharmaceutical and nutritional supplement manufacturers to deliver the potential health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids into an even wider variety of new, cost-effective consumer products.