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
March 18, 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- .
( BW)(BASF)(BF)(BFA.L)(BAS.FK) BASF Significantly Increases Earnings
Business Editors
LUDWIGSHAFEN, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BASF--
-- Position as leading chemical company maintained
-- EBIT before special items climbs by more than 25 percent
-- Turnaround in NAFTA - strong upturn in Asia
-- Political uncertainty clouds economic outlook for 2003
In 2002, BASF maintained its global leadership in the chemical
industry.
Despite a difficult environment, the company surpassed its
forecasts for the past financial year. Sales of EUR 32.2 billion were
at about the same level as in 2001. EBIT before special items climbed
more than 25 percent to EUR 2.88 billion. Despite the tense situation
in important customer industries, sales volumes of BASF products
increased significantly. Even so, the positive growth in volumes of
almost 8 percent could not fully offset negative price and currency
effects.
In 2002, BASF shares again performed better than the DAX and EURO
STOXX(SM) share indexes. The company is maintaining its shareholder
friendly dividend policy and will recommend to the Annual Meeting that
the dividend be increased by EUR 0.10 to EUR 1.40 per share.
At BASF's Annual Press Conference today (March 18, 2003) in
Ludwigshafen, Dr. Jurgen F. Strube said: "These figures show that we
have the right strategy. We are not passively waiting for an upturn,
but are acting quickly and decisively.
The restructuring initiatives we launched in 2001 made a positive
impact last year. We have drastically reduced our costs, streamlined
our organization, and sharpened our customer focus. We are confident
that we will achieve our goal of cutting our costs by around EUR 1
billion by the end of this year." At the same time, BASF is investing
in highly profitable business areas and growth markets.
Uncertainty clouds outlook for 2003
BASF got off to a good start in 2003. Year-to-date sales are up
versus the first two - admittedly weak - months of 2002. However,
Strube commented that this could not necessarily be seen as an
indication of how things will continue as the year progresses. On the
one hand, prognoses based on various indicators permit a broad range
of possible outcomes, many of which are contradictory. On the other
hand, further development is burdened by the uncertainty surrounding
the Iraq conflict. According to Strube, it is therefore possible to
give only a very limited prediction of how the chemical industry and
BASF will develop this year. For the first quarter of 2003, BASF
anticipates higher sales and a significantly higher EBIT before
special items. In the second quarter, however, it expects to have
about the same level of sales as in the second quarter of 2002 and a
lower incremental increase in earnings.
"BASF has been able to further improve its performance, even
during a weak economic period. We have reduced our costs, increased
the efficiency of our processes, enhanced our customer focus, reduced
our weaknesses and reinforced our strengths. We intend to continue on
this course during the difficult coming months of 2003. Our motto
remains valid: We see change as an opportunity," said Strube.
Chemicals, Plastics and Performance Products boost profits in 2002
A look at sales and earnings of the segments in 2002 shows that
the vast majority of the divisions increased EBIT before special
items. This was especially the case in the Chemicals, Plastics &
Fibers and Performance Products segments. Higher sales, better
capacity utilization at BASF's plants and successful cost management
all contributed to this increase.
Throughout 2002, there was severe pressure on margins for BASF's
products. The effects of rising raw material prices could only
partially be compensated by through price increases. Overall, sales
prices declined by more than 5 percent. The higher exchange rate of
the euro versus the U.S. dollar and Japanese yen and the depreciation
of South American currencies negatively impacted sales.
Sales in the Chemicals segment rose more than 18 percent in 2002.
Sales in the Petrochemicals division increased even more, mainly due
to additional volumes from the new steam cracker in Port Arthur,
Texas.
EBIT before special items grew more than EUR 250 million to EUR
676 million, mainly as a result of higher capacity utilization, an
improvement in the cost structure and lower startup costs.
Sales in the Plastics & Fibers segment rose 3.6 percent. EBIT
before special items climbed EUR 413 million to EUR 593 million.
Sales in the Performance Products segment were down slightly.
Increased volumes were unable to compensate for continuing pressure on
prices and negative currency effects.
Nevertheless, EBIT before special items was EUR 653 million, up
more than EUR 250 million compared with the previous year. A
significantly improved cost structure was the main reason for this
increase.
In the Agricultural Products & Nutrition segment, sales fell more
than 15 percent. EBIT before special items was EUR 217 million,
representing a decline of EUR 57 million compared with 2001.
Business in the Agricultural Products division was unsatisfactory.
The main reasons were:
-- bad weather across large parts of the American Midwest;
-- the difficult economic situation in South America;
-- excessive stockpiling throughout the distribution channel in
the wake of consolidation; and
-- the continuing trend toward crops resistant to the total
herbicide glyphosate. This led to contraction in the market
for selective herbicides.
Despite a sales decline of 26 percent in the fourth quarter of
2002, cost reduction measures led to a substantially higher EBIT
before special items. BASF aims to continue on this path and have
initiated measures for further cost reductions of about EUR 100
million.
Sales in the Fine Chemicals division were at the same level as in
2001. Volume growth and cost savings from restructuring measures
helped boost earnings in 2002. EBIT before special items increased to
EUR 118 million.
In the Oil & Gas segment, sales declined 7 percent. Increased
volumes could not offset the effects of a weaker dollar.
EBIT before special items declined by EUR 98 million to EUR 1,210
million and thus was almost at the same high level as in 2001. The
contribution of the natural gas trading business to EBIT increased
once again.
Turnaround in the United States - strong upturn in Asia
Despite the slight decline in sales, EBIT before special items was
up year-on-year in all regions.
In Europe, BASF posted sales of EUR 17.7 billion, which represents
a 1.6 percent decline. Adjusted for sales of pharmaceuticals, which
were included in the first two months of 2001, the decline was just
0.8 percent. At over EUR 2.5 million, EBIT before special items was at
the previous year's level.
BASF has turned the corner in its business in North America
(NAFTA). In particular thanks to higher sales of petrochemicals, sales
increased by 2 percent to EUR 7.8 billion. EBIT before special items
increased by over EUR 320 million to EUR 74 million, thus
significantly boosting Group earnings.
Our South American sales were down 24 percent to EUR 1.7 billion,
mainly due to the depreciation of the Brazilian real and the Argentine
peso.
EBIT before special items was EUR 64 million, or EUR 53 million
more than in 2001, primarily thanks to the stable contribution from
our oil and gas operations.
Sales in the Asia, Pacific Area, Africa region rose by over 8
percent to EUR 5.1 billion. Sales were up in the Plastics and
Chemicals segments in particular.
EBIT before special items rose significantly in this region,
reaching EUR 207 million in 2002. Chemicals, plastics and performance
products were the major growth drivers.
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 EUR 32 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.
Information on the Annual Press Conference can be found on the
Internet at:
English: www.basf.de/pcon
German: www.basf.de/pk
You can download photos of BASF from the Internet at:
www.basf.de/pressphotos.
Forward-looking statements
This release contains forward-looking statements under the U.S.
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are
based on current expectations, estimates and projections of BASF
management and currently available information. They are not
guarantees of future performance, involve certain risks and
uncertainties that are difficult to predict and are based upon
assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate.
Many factors could cause the actual results, performance or
achievements of BASF to be materially different from those that may be
expressed or implied by such statements. Such factors include those
discussed in BASF's Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. We do not assume any obligation to update the
forward-looking statements contained in this release.
CONTACT: BASF
Michael Grabicki, +49 621 60-99938
Fax: +49 621 60-20129
michael.grabicki@basf-ag.de
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: March 18, 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