6-K UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
July 17, 2003
BASF AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
BASF CORPORATION
(Translation of Registrant's name into English)
Carl Bosch Strasse 38, LUDWIGSHAFEN, GERMANY 67056
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant files or will file
annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F
Form 20-F X Form 40-F
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes No X
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the
Registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- .
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this Current Report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
BASF Aktiengesellschaft
Date: July 17, 2003 By: /s/ Elisabeth Schick
------------------------------------
Name: Elisabeth Schick
Title: Director Site Communications Ludwigshafen
and Europe
By: /s/ Christian Schubert
------------------------------------
Name: Christian Schubert
Title: Director Corporate Communications
BASF Group
BASF's Supervisory Board establishes an Audit Committee
LUDWIGSHAFEN, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 17, 2003--In its meeting on
July 17, 2003, the Supervisory Board of BASF Aktiengesellschaft established an
Audit Committee as well as rules of procedure for the new body. The activities
of the Audit Committee cover both areas that are binding under the U.S. Sarbanes
Oxley Act, as well as duties that are recommended by the German Corporate
Governance Code.
The German Corporate Governance Code recommends that the Audit Committee
deals in particular with issues related to accounting and risk management, the
requisite independence of auditors, the engagement of auditors, determining
auditor assignments and agreeing auditing fees.
Max Dietrich Kley, former deputy chairman of BASF's Board of Executive
Directors, was elected chairman of the Audit Committee. Further members are Dr.
Karlheinz Messmer, plant manager at BASF's Ludwigshafen site; Jurgen Walter,
member of the Central Board of Executive Directors of the Mining, Chemical and
Energy Industries Union (IG BCE); and Helmut Werner, managing director of Helmut
Werner GmbH.
BASF is the world's leading chemical company, offering its customers a
range of high-performance products, including chemicals, plastics, performance
products, agricultural products, fine chemicals as well as crude oil and natural
gas. Its distinctive approach to integration, known in German as "Verbund," is
its strength. It enables BASF to achieve cost leadership and gives the company a
competitive advantage. BASF conducts its business in accordance with the
principles of sustainable development. In 2002, BASF had sales of about EUR32
billion (circa $34 billion) and over 89,000 employees worldwide. BASF shares are
traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA), New York (BF),
Paris (BA) and Zurich (BAS). Further information on BASF is available on the
Internet at www.basf.com.
CONTACT: BASF
Michael Grabicki
Tel. 0621 60-99938
Fax 0621 60-92693
michael.grabicki@basf-ag.de