BASF (Germany) has acquired CYANAMIDE, the crop protection business (herbicides, pesticides) of the American pharmaceutical group AHP -AMERICAN HOME PRODUCTS- for USD 3.8 billion cash. BASF was competing with three other bidders, namely BAYER, DUPONT and DOW CHEMICAL. The phytosanitary division of BASF had turnover of EUR 1.9 billion in 1999, while CYANAMIDE had sales of USD 1.67 billion for the same year. This acquisition will make BASF number three worldwide in agri-chemicals.