BASF closes acquisition of vegetable seeds business from Bayer

BASF closed the acquisition of Bayer’s global vegetable seeds business, mainly operating under the brand Nunhems^®.

The transaction adds a well-recognized brand to BASF’s portfolio. The acquired vegetable seeds business comprises 24 crops and about 2,600 varieties. It also includes well-established, strong R&D and breeding systems with over 100 unique breeding programs in more than 15 crops.

This closing completes BASF’s acquisition of a significant range of businesses and assets with combined 2017 sales of EUR 2.2 billion, which Bayer offered to divest in the context of its takeover of Monsanto. The all-cash purchase price amounts to a total of EUR 7.6 billion, subject to certain adjustments at closing.

The addition of the vegetable seeds business enhances BASF’s global offer to farmers. It strengthens BASF’s seed platform and complements the recently expanded Agricultural Solutions portfolio, which includes seeds and traits, chemical and biological crop protection, soil management, plant health, pest control and digital farming.

Previously it was reported that BASF had closed the acquisition of a range of businesses and assets from Bayer. The transaction is a strategic complement to BASF’s crop protection, biotech and digital farming activities and marks its entry into seeds, non-selective herbicides and nematicide seed treatments.