| Cognis | |
| Type: | Subsidiary |
| Foundation: | August 1, 1999 |
| Location: | Monheim, Germany |
| Num Employees: | 5,600 (2009) |
| Revenue: | € 3.001 billion (2008) |
| Industry: | Chemicals |
| Parent: | BASF |
Cognis was a worldwide supplier of specialty chemicals and nutritional ingredients, headquartered in Monheim am Rhein, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The company employs about 5,600 people and operates production or service centers in almost 30 countries. Cognis was acquired by BASF in 2010.[1]
Cognis was an integrated part of Henkel, a German consumer products company, until 2000, when it became an operationally independent business unit.[2] In November 2001, Cognis was bought by private equity funds Permira, GS Capital Partners and SV Life Sciences.[3]
BASF reached an agreement with Cognis Holding Luxembourg S.à r.l. — which is controlled by Permira Funds, GS Capital Partners and SV Life Sciences — to acquire the specialty chemicals company Cognis for an equity purchase price of €700 million. Including net financial debt and pension obligations, the enterprise value of the transaction is €3.1 billion. The acquisition is subject to clearance by the competent merger control authorities. Closing of the transaction occurred in December 2010.[4]