BASF SE is moving forward with plans for an initial public offering (IPO) of its agricultural chemicals division, Agricultural Solutions, by 2027. The German manufacturer aims for the Frankfurt Stock Exchange as the listing location for this unit, which it intends to establish as an independent European company (Societas Europaea, SE). This strategic move is part of BASF's "Winning Ways" strategy, designed to unlock the business's value potential and create a standalone, pure-play agricultural company with global reach and strong growth prospects.
Reports indicate that Deutsche Bank AG and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. have already been selected to assist BASF in preparing the agricultural chemicals unit for its potential listing. While initial reports in February 2025 mentioned considering both the US and Germany, more recent information from November 2025 explicitly targets the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. The agricultural chemicals business could be valued at more than €20 billion ($22 billion) in a listing, with global coordinators for underwriting the share sale expected to be appointed at a later date.
BASF intends to remain the majority shareholder of Agricultural Solutions post-IPO, continuing to benefit from its growth and success while implementing market-standard corporate governance. A new Management Board for Agricultural Solutions was appointed effective May 1, 2026, led by Dr. Livio Tedeschi as Head, with Sascha Bibert handling Finance, Maximilian Becker managing Business, and Dr. Melanie Bausen-Wiens overseeing Technology. The company is actively separating Agricultural Solutions into independent legal entities and implementing an industry-specific ERP system, with the process expected to be completed in all regions by early 2027, ensuring IPO readiness by 2027.
