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Lots have happened since the first reference in Nordic countries was recorded by BASF (Badische Anilin und Soda-Fabrik AG) back in 1888. Please find below a chronology of BASF in Finland.

2018
BASF 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.
 

2016
Due to reorganization within BASF in Europe, Country Cluster Nordic/Baltic is formed in January, and Mark Meier is appointed Managing Director Nordic/Baltic. 
BASF SE aquires Chemetall GmbH (including Chemetall AB) in December.
 

2015
2015 BASF celebrates its 150 year anniversary. The year begins with a new brand presence: “The Chemical Company” is replaced with “We create chemicstry”. The new claim refers to innovation and cooperation: We develop solutions with others – with clients, with scientists and within the BASF Verbund. In short, “We create chemistry” represents the core of our company and of the BASF brand. BASF Oy celebrates its 30 year anniversary.

2102
10 years of paper chemicals production in Hamina (October)
20 years of Kaolin business in Finland (February) 

2011
BASF is engaged in International Year of Chemistry (IYC), with the purpose to increase young people's interest in science. In Finland we sponsor the ChemistryLab Gadolin, a learning environment supporting and developing chemistry teaching and learning in University of Helsinki and donate Science Dictionaries to schools.

2010
BASF acquires Cognis (December)
BASF sell its starch business in Europe to Chemigate Oy, a company founded by former managers of the starch business in Finland. (October) 

2009
BASF acquires Ciba Holding AG (April 9).

2008
BASF Construction Chemicals Finland Oy is legally merged into BASF Oy.
The majority of the financial functions within BASF Oy are transferred to BASF’s Shared Service Centre in Berlin, Germany. 

2007
Engelhard Pigments Oy changes name to BASF Minerals Oy.

2006
The Engelhard acquisition results in the establishment of Engelhard Pigments Oy, a fully owned BASF company.
BASF acquisition of Degussa AG’s global construction chemicals business gives BASF majority shares in Degussa Construction Chemicals Finland Oy, which is renamed BASF Construction Chemicals Finland Oy.

2004
A new organization is formed, called Business Centre Europe North. It is a merger of the two former regions BC Nordic/Baltic and BC UK/Ireland. A new corporate profile is developed for the BASF group.

2002
BASF Oy launches a new production site in Hamina for the manufacture of polymer dispersions.

2001
The Business Centre Nordic/Baltic is formed, including the Nordic and Baltic countries. 

1998
The Business Centre Nordic is formed, including Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway.

1990
Suomen BASF Oy changes name to BASF Oy.

1985
A BASF Finnish subsidiary is set up, called Suomen BASF Oy.

1950 - 1956
Cooperation with Finnish distributorships is resumed from 1950 onward. These include Oy Mercantile Ab (Helsinki) and Kymmene (Finnish Chemicals Kuusankoski). Oy Mercantile Ab acquires sole distributorship rights on BASF chemicals and fertilizer in the 1950s. Oy Mercantile Ab is from 1952 the only distributor for all BASF’s products in Finland. I.G. Farben is disbanded. Successor companies are established.

1928 - 1942
Toward the end of the 1920s, I.G. Farben’s Finnish distributorships include Oy. Mercantile Ab in Helsinki. (contract with I.G. Farben 1928).

1888
The BASF commercial records for 1888 contain the first direct reference to sales in Scandinavian countries. In 1890, Scandinavia accounted for 1.6% of total BASF sales. BASF product sales in Finland are presumably via Finnish agents.