Alpek, S.A.B. de C.V. and BASF announced that they have signed agreements concerning the EPS -- expandable polystyrene -- and PU -- polyurethane -- business activities of their Polioles joint venture in Mexico, and BASF's EPS business in North and South America, excluding BASF's Neopor business. Alpek will acquire all of Polioles' EPS business activities, including its EPS production site in Altamira, Mexico. In parallel, BASF will acquire Polioles' PU business activities, including selected assets in its Lerma facility as well as all marketing and selling rights for PU systems, isocyanates and polyols. Upon completion of the transaction, Polioles will continue operations as an Alpek-BASF joint venture with a product portfolio comprised of industrial and specialty chemicals. Under the agreements, Alpek will also acquire BASF's EPS business activities in North and South America, including: BASF's EPS sales and distribution channels in North and South America, BASF's EPS production facilities in Guaratinguetá, Brazil, and General Lagos, Argentina, and BASF's EPS foam parts business in Chile. . Approximately 440 employees work in the businesses that are subject to the agreements -- 380 employees in the EPS businesses and 60 employees in the PU business. The majority of these employees will keep their position under the new ownerships. BASF will continue to sell Neopor to its customers in the United States, Canada and South America. In Mexico, Alpek will sell Neopor for BASF based on a distribution agreement. BASF will focus its EPS business on strategic markets in Europe and Asia as well as on Neopor, which is produced in Germany and Korea.