The planned IPO represents a major milestone in BASF’s strategy to unlock shareholder value while establishing Agricultural Solutions as a standalone business with global reach and strong growth prospects
BASF has revealed that it is targeting the Frankfurt stock exchange as the listing location for its Agricultural Solutions business.
The planned initial public offering (IPO) of Agricultural Solutions as a European company (Societas Europaea, SE) represents a ”major milestone” in BASF’s ’Winning Ways’ strategy, the group noted.
It said it will establish the standalone business as an independent, pure-play agricultural company with ”global reach, robust growth prospects and strong cash flow generation”.
BASF will remain the majority shareholder and will continue to benefit from the company’s growth and success, while implementing market customary corporate governance.
“The planned listing of our Agricultural Solutions business will mark the next decisive step to unlock additional value for our shareholders,” said Dr Markus Kamieth, chairman of the board of executive directors of BASF SE.
”Today, we are happy to present its management board, which combines extensive industry expertise with the required capital market experience.
”We look forward to their contributions in driving the transformation of Agricultural Solutions into an independently steered pure play, which will foster a sustainable future for agriculture through accelerated innovation and enhanced customer focus,” he outlined.
As of 1 May 2026, a new management board will lead Agricultural Solutions through its transition to an independent, publicly listed company.
The board’s members will be Dr Livio Tedeschi, president, BASF Agricultural Solutions, Sascha Bibert who will join BASF Agricultural Solutions from Vallourec SA, Maximilian Becker, senior vice president vegetable seeds at BASF Agricultural Solutions, and Dr Melanie Bausen-Wiens, senior vice president regulatory, stewardship and public affairs, BASF Agricultural Solutions.
“For over a century, Agricultural Solutions has supported farmers and breeders with innovations that help them grow their crops to their full potential,” said Tedeschi.
”As we move forward as a fully integrated company with proven strengths in crop protection, seeds and traits, digital farming, and sustainability, we are uniquely positioned to serve evolving customer needs, while continuing to advance agriculture and create sustainable, resilient food systems for generations to come.
“Together with the new management board and our teams worldwide, we will turn our strategy and vision into reality – opening a new chapter for our business to become publicly listed,” he added.
Agricultural Solutions is being separated from BASF into its own legal entities and is introducing an industry-specific ERP system, the group explained.
The transition has already been successfully accomplished in North America, and for the remaining regions it will be completed by early 2027.
”The Agricultural Solutions team will continue to deliver market-driven innovations to farmers across major crops globally and keep its high investment in research and development,” BASF explained.
”The business strategy further focuses on evolving into one of the top three players in the seeds and traits market, scaling digital and sustainable business models, and maintaining a leading position in crop protection by combining the portfolio elements to address farmers’ needs holistically.”
