BASF Corporation donates over $1 million to aid New York Police & Fire Widows' & Children's Benefit Fund

Mount Olive, NJ – November 1, 2001 - BASF Corporation today announced a $1,160, 000 donation from its employee-driven "911 Fund" to benefit the New York Police & Fire Widows' & Children's (NYPFWC ) Benefit Fund (www.nypfwc.org). The company‘s 911 Fund was established in the United States to benefit families of police, fire, and emergency service workers lost in the September 11 tragedy. Spontaneously, the fund spread throughout BASF's global operations. Employees from around the world contributed generously in a show of support and solidarity. All employee donations were matched by BASF.

"Immediately after the tragic events of September 11, all of us at BASF wanted to find a way in which we could help," said Peter Oakley, Chairman and CEO of BASF Corporation, at an employee event held at company headquarters in Mount Olive, New Jersey and attended by representatives from the New York City Fire Department and the NYPFWC Benefit Fund. "Apart from giving blood and supplies and donating the use of our equipment, we decided the best way we could help was by gathering money and making this available as soon as possible to the families of the courageous individuals who lost their lives."

BASF selected the NYPFWC Benefit Fund as the organization that will be charged with delivering the funds to the designated beneficiaries. This fund was formed in 1985, and for 16 years, has established a record of accomplishments in support of the families of New York's Finest and New York's Bravest lost in the line of duty.

"On behalf of all the fallen heroes‘ families, I thank BASF Corporation for its generosity," said David Golush, treasurer of the NYPFWC Benefit Fund. "One hundred cents on every dollar will go to support the families."

BASF funds will be added to the approximately $22 million in contributions the NYPFWC Fund has collected and will be distributed to the families of all the federal, regional, state and city badged officers who were lost while trying to assist in the evacuation of the World Trade Center.

BASF is the world’s largest producer of chemicals and related products. Based in Mount Olive, New Jersey, BASF Corporation is the North American affiliate of BASF AG (Ludwigshafen, Germany) which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "BF." BASF Corporation had sales of $7.9 billion in 2000. BASF in North America employs more than 15,000 people at more than 50 locations. BASF Corporation can be found on the Internet at www.basf.com/usa.