Audia acquires BASF’s liquid masterbatch business

In a move to focus on business with solid and powder masterbatches, chemical supplier BASF is divesting its liquid masterbatch business in Clermont de l’Oise, France, to Audia International, a global supplier of polyolefins and color masterbatches.

The terms of the deal have not been disclosed, and the transaction is expected to close in mid 2014.

In a statement, BASF said it will concentrate on its business with solid and powder masterbatches, produced in Cologne, Germany. BASF described liquid masterbatches as a “niche business and not part of its future focus”.

For Washington, Pa.-based Audia, the acquisition “represents an exciting expansion in technology, markets, and geography, complementing [our] major entry into the European market over the past seven years.” Audi also said that the liquid masterbatch business will be run as part of its subsidiary, Uniform Color Company, a global supplier of masterbatches, with facilities in North America and Europe.