BASF has appointed Citi, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs and J.P. Morgan as global coordinators for a potential initial public offering of its Agricultural Solutions division, and is targeting IPO readiness by mid-2027. The group has previously said it intends to list the business as a Societas Europaea on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

The division sells crop-protection products, seeds and traits, biological products and digital technologies to farmers worldwide. The listing is part of BASF's "Winning Ways" strategy and is meant to unlock the full value of the business as an independent agricultural company.

The legal and operational separation remains on schedule, BASF said: about 80% of the global business has already moved into separate legal entities running on a new, industry-specific enterprise resource planning system, which the company expects to make it more flexible and closer to customers in agricultural markets. It is also building the governance and operational capabilities needed to run as a standalone listed company.

More on the division's strategy is promised at BASF's Capital Markets Day on 24 November 2026, where all four members of the Agricultural Solutions management board are expected to take part. BASF stressed that no final decision has been made on the timing or execution of the IPO, which will depend on market conditions and the investment environment.

For farmers the significance is the emergence of another stand-alone crop-input company, alongside the seed and chemical majors, competing for their business in crop protection, seed and digital services.

Source: Farms.com