The EU Commission has given its approval for the formation of the joint venture Styrolution. BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany, and INEOS Industries Holdings Limited, Lyndhurst, UK, now have EU clearance to combine in Styrolution their global business activities in styrene monomers (SM) polystyrene (PS) acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) styrene-butadiene block copolymers (SBC) and other styrene-based copolymers (SAN, AMSAN, ASA, MABS) as well as copolymer blends. Pro forma sales of the combined businesses were 6.4 billion in 2010. Expandable polystyrene is not part of this transaction. BASF and INEOS will retain their respective businesses.

With Styrolution, BASF and INEOS will establish the leading company in the global styrenics market. Styrolution has an excellent global position with production sites in Europe, Asia and North America.

The EU Commission has approved the formation of the joint venture subject to the requirement that the parties sell an ABS production site in Tarragona, Spain. This site accounted for less than 3% of Styrolutions pro forma EBITDA for the year 2010. The formation of the new joint venture has already been approved by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission without any remedies.

BASF and INEOS will continue to operate as strictly independent companies until the completion of the deal, which is anticipated in 2011, subject to remaining approvals from antitrust authorities in other countries.

Styrenics are mainly used for household and office products, for electrical and communication devices and for packaging. Styrene-based copolymers are thermoplastic resins based on styrene and acrylonitrile. They are mainly used in automotive and technical applications as well as for many everyday products.

Forward-looking statements

This release contains forward-looking statements based on current experience, estimates and projections of BASFs and INEOS management and currently available information. They are not guarantees of future performance, involve certain risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and are based upon assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. Many factors could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of BASF and INEOS to be materially different from those that may be expressed or implied by such statements. BASF and INEOS do not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements contained in this release.

Source: BASF