On Wednesday, October 28, 2020, BASF formally agreed to acquire ASL, one of the world's most innovative melon breeding companies, to continue to expand its position as a preferred partner in the fruit and vegetable value chain. The transaction with the privately owned French company based near Avignon covers all assets, including seed production, intellectual property rights, germplasm, research and development facilities, as well as personnel.

ASL specializes in melons with orange flesh, such as the Cantaloup and Charentais types. To ensure efficient knowledge transfer, the acquisition is scheduled to close on January 1, 2023. The owners' decision to continue to divest their company to their long-term partner BASF will ensure the continuation of the most innovative melon. breeding program.

“For the global vegetable seed industry, melon is an important crop. BASF's vegetable seed portfolio marketed under the Nunhems® brand already covers hybrid melon seeds, ”said Vicente Navarro, senior vice president of BASF's vegetable seed business. “By acquiring ASL, we continue to offer a highly innovative melon production line to our value chain partners and consumers. They are the rationale behind all of our business activities and the reason we want to make healthy eating enjoyable and sustainable by growing new varieties that meet your expectations for taste and convenience. "

The seed production and improvement facilities near Avignon will complement BASF's existing network of 23 vegetable seed improvement stations around the world and will be the first station for R&D activities, such as breeding and selection, located in France. .

The financial details of the transaction are not disclosed.

With a rapidly growing population, the world increasingly depends on our ability to develop and maintain sustainable agriculture and healthy environments. Working with farmers, agricultural professionals, pest management experts and others, it is our role to help make this possible. That is why we invest in a solid line of research and development and a broad portfolio, which includes seeds and characteristics, chemical and biological crop protection, soil management, plant health, pest control and digital agriculture. With teams of experts in the lab, field, office and production, we connect innovative thinking and down-to-earth action to create real-world ideas that work for farmers, society, and the planet. In 2019, our division generated sales of 7.8 billion euros.

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. More than 117,000 BASF Group employees work to contribute to the success of our customers in almost every industry and in almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition and Care, and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of € 59 billion in 2019. BASF's shares are traded on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the US.