Company Overview - BASF SE has completed the divestment of its Optical Brightening Agent (OBA) business to Catexel, with the transaction closing at the end of February 2026. The financial details of the deal remain undisclosed [1][8] - The divested business was part of BASF's Care Chemicals division, focusing on specialty optical brighteners for laundry detergents, including operations in Monthey, Switzerland, and approximately 80 employees transferred to Catexel [2][8] Strategic Focus - This transaction is part of BASF's "Winning Ways" portfolio transformation strategy, aimed at managing and prioritizing its businesses to focus on higher-growth core segments [3][8] - The divestment reflects a broader trend in the care chemicals industry towards portfolio specialization and operational optimization [4] Market Performance - BASF shares have declined by 8% over the past year, while the industry has seen a decline of 11.7% [4]