BASFY Completes OBA Handover to Catexel, Moves Forward with Portfolio Transformation

BASF Finalizes Sale of Optical Brightening Agent Business to Catexel

BASF SE has officially completed the sale of its Optical Brightening Agent (OBA) business to Catexel, with the transaction closing at the end of February 2026. The agreement, initially signed in December 2025, did not disclose financial terms. This move is part of BASF’s broader strategy to refine and optimize its business portfolio.

The divested OBA business, previously under BASF’s Care Chemicals division, specialized in producing advanced optical brighteners for laundry detergents. The deal includes global operations, notably the manufacturing site in Monthey, Switzerland, and involves the transfer of around 80 employees to Catexel.

This sale aligns with BASF’s ongoing “Winning Ways” initiative, which focuses on actively managing its portfolio to concentrate on core areas with higher growth potential.

The transaction highlights a growing trend in the care chemicals sector toward greater specialization and efficiency. For Catexel, the acquisition significantly expands its specialty chemicals offerings and strengthens its capabilities in the detergent and cleaning ingredients market.

Over the past year, BASFY shares have fallen by 8%, while the broader industry experienced an 11.7% decline.

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BASFY’s Zacks Rating and Noteworthy Alternatives

BASFY currently holds a Zacks Rank of #4 (Sell).

For investors seeking stronger options in the Basic Materials sector, consider these companies:

• Albemarle Corporation – Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy)
• DuPont de Nemours, Inc. – Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy)
• Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. – Zacks Rank #2 (Buy)

Recent Earnings Highlights

• Albemarle (ALB): The consensus estimate for this year’s earnings is $7.87 per share, representing a 1,096.2% increase year-over-year. ALB surpassed earnings expectations in three of the last four quarters, with an average surprise of 58%.
• DuPont (DD): Projected earnings for the current fiscal year are $2.28 per share, up 36% from the previous year. DD exceeded estimates in all four of the last quarters, averaging a 6.5% earnings surprise.
• Air Products (APD): Expected earnings for the current fiscal year are $13.01 per share, an 8.15% increase year-over-year. APD beat estimates in two of the last four quarters, with an average surprise of 0.44%.

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