BASF Acquires Sorex Pest Control Business; Deal Includes Whitmire Micro-Gen

LUDWIGSHAFEN, Germany — BASF announced Thursday that it has signed an agreement to acquire Sorex Holdings Ltd., a leading manufacturer of branded chemical and non-chemical products for professional pest management. The transaction, which includes U.S.-based Whitmire Micro-Gen and U.K.-based Sorex Ltd., will give BASF an increased presence in two of the most important pest control markets worldwide, the United States and Europe. Financial details have not been disclosed.

Michael Heinz, president of BASF’s Crop Protection division, said: "We are convinced that combining our existing pest control business and research capabilities with the Sorex Group portfolio and expertise with application technology will strengthen us on several fronts. We will diversify into the U.S. general insect control segment and solidify our position in Europe. Combining our research and development capabilities will help us bring even more innovative solutions to pest management professionals.”

In the United States, BASF now becomes a market leader in general insect control. In the termite sector, where BASF already is a market leader in liquid treatments, its portfolio is now broadened to include the second-largest termite bait offering: Whitmire Micro-Gen’s Advance Termite Bait System. In Europe, BASF now also advances to a strong position in rodent and insect control solutions for pest management professionals. 

The Sorex Group is well known for having expertise in the area of rodenticides. The company has approximately 200 employees and recorded net sales of EUR 72 million ($92 million USD) in 2007, primarily in the U.S. and Europe. Sorex Group’s portfolio and customer focus together with BASF’s worldwide presence will help to grow the pest control business on a global level, according to BASF. Its formulation capabilities together with BASF’s insecticides portfolio will enable BASF to develop tailor-made solutions for the professional pest control market.

Whitmire Micro-Gen’s products in the U.S. include a broad range of aerosol insecticides for general insect control, baiting systems for control of ants, cockroaches and termites as well as numerous dilutable insecticide formulations. Its strong position in pyrethrum-based insecticides and their Mother Earth® line of insect control products will give BASF a strong foothold in the fast-growing general insect control market, according to BASF. These product lines will be highly complementary to BASF’s Termidor® and Phantom® product lines. Sorex’s strong position in the European market is based on innovative technologies, especially in rodent control, which also broadens BASF’s offerings to professional pest control operators.

The closing of the transaction will proceed after final regulatory approval.