BASF seeks expansion in dispersions and pigments.(BUSINESS & FINANCE NEWS: EUROPE/MIDEAST)

BASF has realigned its performance products segment following I the acquisition of Ciba Specialty Chemicals and given the segment an Ebitda margin target of 18% in 2012. It has set a minimum Ebit margin target of 20% for the segment by 2012, including the more recently announced

acquisition of Cognis-a huge increase on the 9.9% Ebitda margin achieved in 2009. Dispersions and pigments, one of five divisions within performance products and accounting for 26% of the segment's 9.4-billion [euro] ($12.6 billion) sales in 2009, has been tasked to grow faster than the rest of the segment, Markus Kramer, president/dispersions and pigments tells CW.. The division also includes resins and additives, and it serves mainly the paints and coatings, printing and packaging, construction, and adhesives industries.

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Kramer and Andreas Turk, group v.p./ global restructuring of pigments, outlined the strategy for the …