Merger of ANI Printing Inks and BASF Printing Systems approved by European Commission

The European Commission has approved the proposed acquisition of BASF Printing Systems and ANI Printing Inks by the European private equity firm CVC. The investigation has shown that the proposed transactions, which will involve the combination of the acquired businesses, will not significantly impede effective competition in the European Union.

A new management team for the combined business will now be created, headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany. Peter Koivula, president of ANI will become CEO of the new company. He will be joined by Niclas Nystrm, CFO, Dr Stefan Wegener, Operations & Synergies, and Frauke Meissner, Procurement. Mikael Aspelin will be responsible for Legal Affairs, Administration & HR, Bertil Ahlberg and Dieter Finna will take care of Corporate Communication and Market Intelligence. Dr Michael Stumpp, President of BASF Printing Systems, will take up a new position within the BASF group.

The group will consist of six divisions. Narrow Web will be headed by Ewald Draaijer, Packaging Inks by Dr Giuseppe Gianetti, Printing Plates by Dr Thomas Telser, Publication Inks by Mr Bart Delaleeuw, Sheetfed Offset by Dr Dirk Aulbert and Pigments & Resins by Dr Frank Scherhag.

A detailed organisation plan will be worked out and announced as soon as possible. The process of finding a new name for the combined companies has also been started.

A management-buy-out which was financed by CVC funds has created the largest European-owned printing systems supplier in the world market – in terms of turnover it will be the second largest in Europe and the third largest worldwide.