BASF May Sell Leather and Textile Chemicals Business.

BASF has announced a reorganization of its performance products business segment, in anticipation of the closing of the company's acquisition of Ciba Specialty Chemicals toward the end of this quarter. BASF says it will "review strategic options" for its leather and textile chemicals business, including a possible divestment of the business, as part of the reshuffle. The planned reorganization, effective April 1, 2009 is designed to "sharpen the company's focus on its customer industries," BASF says. The integration of Ciba's operations with those of BASF is expected to start in the second half of 2009, following a two-month process under which joint teams of BASF and …