BASF's Agricultural Solutions Set for Frankfurt Listing as European Company, Marking Key Step Toward 2027 Independence

On 11 November 2025, BASF's Agricultural Solutions business unit was formally listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, operating as a European Company (Societas Europaea, SE) under the ticker symbol 'SE'. This move represents a pivotal step within BASF's broader ‘Winning' strategy, which targets a full, independent listing of the agricultural business by 2027.

Management and Governance

The newly established entity will be steered by a Management Board under the leadership of Dr Livio Tedeschi, who will be responsible for driving the business transformation and preparing for an initial public offering (IPO). Following the anticipated IPO, BASF SE is expected to retain a controlling stake, allowing it to continue benefiting from the unit's growth, while adopting a corporate governance structure in line with established market practices.

Strategic Rationale and Leadership

Dr Markus Kamieth, Chairman of the Executive Board of BASF SE, commented on the development: 'The planned listing of our Agricultural Solutions business represents a significant step in creating greater value for our shareholders. Today, we are pleased to announce the members of its Management Board, who bring both deep industry expertise and solid capital markets experience. We look forward to them driving accelerated innovation, strengthening customer focus, advancing sustainable agriculture, and successfully transforming the company into an independently operated, pure-play agricultural enterprise.'

Composition of the Management Board

Effective from 1 May 2026, the Management Board of Agricultural Solutions will comprise four members:

• Dr Livio Tedeschi (54), currently President of BASF Agricultural Solutions, will serve as Chairman of the Management Board. He will also join the Executive Board of BASF SE from 1 May 2026, with responsibility for the Agricultural Solutions business.

• Sascha Bieber (50), currently an executive at Valueric, will join as Chief Financial Officer.

• Maximilian Becker (39), currently Senior Vice President Vegetable Seeds at BASF Crop Solutions, will be responsible for Business Operations.

• Dr Melanie Pausten-Wiens (50), currently Senior Vice President Regulatory, Governance and Public Affairs, will assume responsibility for Technology Affairs.

Business Vision and Transformation

Dr Tedeschi outlined the company's vision, stating: For over a century, we have been committed to advancing agriculture through innovation. As an integrated enterprise encompassing crop protection, seeds and traits, digital agriculture and sustainability solutions, we possess a unique advantage to respond to our customers' evolving needs and drive agriculture's transition towards more sustainable and resilient food systems. We look forward to working with the Management Board and all employees to put our strategy into practice and embark on a new chapter as an independent listed company.

Separation Process Update

The operational and legal separation of BASF's Agricultural Solutions business from the parent group is currently underway. This process involves establishing it as an independent legal entity and implementing an industry-specific ERP system. The separation has been successfully completed in North America, with the remaining regions expected to be finalised by early 2027.

Future Strategic Direction

Looking ahead, the Agricultural Solutions company intends to maintain its focus on delivering market-driven innovations to major crop growers worldwide, supported by robust investment in research and development. Its core strategic objectives are defined as: striving to become a top-three global player in seeds and traits; expanding digital and sustainable business models; and consolidating its leadership in crop protection through portfolio integration to comprehensively address the diverse needs of modern agriculture.