Global BASF team donates more than €2 million for victims of Japanese disaster

Ludwigshafen , Germany – – Employees of BASF worldwide have donated more than €780.000 to the victims of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami. BASF fully matched each donation contributed by the employees one-to-one. Including these funds and the initial contribution by BASF, donations therefore total over €2 million.



Dr. Martin Brudermüller, Vice Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF and responsible for the Asia Pacific region, said, “Following the devastating incidents in Japan, our local colleagues have shown enormous strength and perseverance, as well as commitment to sustaining BASF’s business. During the past weeks I have been very happy to see how BASF employees around the world have joined in expressing their sincere support to Japan with their personal donations.”



The aid money from the employee donation campaign in Germany initially went to the BASF Social Foundation. This institution, in close cooperation with BASF Japan, will now identify suitable partner organizations and projects in Japan for the use of the matching funds. Employees of BASF group companies outside Germany donated to their local Red Cross and Save the Children organizations, among others.



Immediately after the earthquake, the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE decided to contribute €500,000 to the Central Community Chest of Japan as immediate aid to victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. This donation has already been provided by the BASF Social Foundation.



BASF has 35 operations sites (including 27 production sites and eight R&D and technical centers) and 49 sales offices in Japan. Most BASF production sites in Japan are up and running normally now, and the Tokyo office is now operational.

About BASF

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and agricultural products to oil and gas. As a reliable partner BASF creates chemistry to help its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF posted sales of about €63.9 billion in 2010 and had approximately 109,000 employees as of the end of the year. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com