BASF Coatings takes over R-M sales activities of DERIS and Château-Arnoux Peinture

Münster. BASF Coatings Services S.A.R.L. is taking over major parts of Michel DERIS S.A.S. in Sault-les-Rethel, France. BASF Coatings S.A.S. is acquiring Château-Arnoux Peinture S.A.S. in Château-Arnoux, France. Michel DERIS ’s and Château-Arnoux Peinture’s sales activities with regard to automotive refinish paints and non-paint products will be integrated into BASF Coatings Services S.A.R.L., France.

The companies have not provided information on the purchase price.

Michel DERIS and Château-Arnoux Peinture had already sold R-M paint products and services of BASF Coatings S.A.S., Clermont (France) from its 3 sites in Sault-les-Rethel, Gauchy and La Chapelle Saint Luc. (Michel DERIS) and in Château-Arnoux (Château-Arnoux Peinture). In the future, business relations with the R-M brand end customers will be managed and developed by BASF Coatings Services S.A.R.L. with the help of the 14 employees of Michel DERIS and with the help of the 11 employees of Château-Arnoux Peinture who were taken over.

BASF : A major international player in coatings

BASF Coatings AG belongs to the global Coatings Division of the BASF Group. In 2006 the Coatings Division achieved world sales of about 2.3 billion euros. The Coatings Division develops, produces and markets a high-quality range of innovative automotive OEM coatings, automotive refinishes and industrial coatings as well as decorative paints, and also the processes needed to apply them. In this business, eco-efficient water-based, powder and high-solids coatings as well as radiation-curable systems play a special part. In Brazil, the company has been successful in the decorative paints market for years and holds the leading position. BASF has a major, global presence in the Coatings sector, with significant market positions in Europe, North America, South America and the Asia/Pacific region, for example with affiliates in Australia, China, India, Japan, and the Philippines. The internet address of BASF Coatings is www.basf-coatings.com

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products, agricultural products and fine chemicals to crude oil and natural gas. As a reliable partner to virtually all industries, BASF’s high-value products and intelligent system solutions help its customers to be more successful. BASF develops new technologies and uses them to meet the challenges of the future and open up additional market opportunities. It combines economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility, thus contributing to a better future. BASF has over 95,000 employees and posted sales of €52.6 billion in 2006. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA), New York (BF) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.

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