MUENSTER, Germany - BASF Coatings announced its intention to sell the decorative paints business of RELIUS COATINGS GmbH & Co. KG and the respective subsidiaries in France and the Netherlands. The business encompasses decorative paints and plaster as well as coatings and glazing for construction applications. Regionally, it is focused on Germany and selected countries in Europe. In 2010, the business had total sales of about EUR 80 million. The sites in Memmingen, Germany, and Deurne, Netherlands, are part of the divestiture. Also included are the decorative paints distribution offices of RELIUS.

BASF’s business with decorative paints in South America and China is not affected by the planned divestiture and will be further expanded. The business with industrial coatings of RELIUS COATINGS that is managed out of the Oldenburg site will remain an integral part of BASF Coatings.

In 2006, BASF acquired RELIUS COATINGS GmbH and Co. KG as a part of the Degussa construction chemicals business.