BASF awards scholarship to local student
Grant continues company's educational focus

PASADENA, Texas, September 24, 2003 - BASF Corporation has awarded a $4,000 scholarship grant to Pooja Viswanath, daughter of BASF Pasadena site employee Bala Viswanath, a resident of Houston, in support of her current studies at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire.

"BASF has a strong commitment to supporting the communities in which we do business and to supporting education as key aspects of our 'Helping Make Communities Better' grant program," said John Gales, Site Manager of BASF's Pasadena site. "We're pleased to be able to support outstanding students such as Ms. Viswanath."

BASF awards 10 scholarships annually to eligible students of its employees. Candidates are judged on a combination of academic skills and achievements, extracurricular accomplishments, and potential for success in challenging college studies. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation administers the program.

To compete, students take the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) at the beginning of their junior year of high school and complete an initial entry form. After qualifying as semi-finalists, they complete the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAP) in their senior year and fulfill additional requirements.

Each finalist must present an outstanding academic record, be endorsed and recommended by the school principal, confirm qualifying test performance on a second test, and submit an essay describing activities, interests, and goals.

Approximately 35 employees work at BASF's Pasadena site. The facility has operated since 1980 and produces chelates and surfactants used in a variety of household products such as soaps and detergents.

BASF: Helping Make Products Better™
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 $34 billion and more than 89,000 employees worldwide. BASF Corporation is the North American affiliate of BASF AG, Ludwigshafen, Germany. In North America, 2002 sales were approximately $8.2 billion and the company employs approximately 12,000 people. For more information or to receive news releases by e-mail, visit www.basf.com/usa.

For more information, contact:
John Gales
BASF Corporation, Pasadena
Tel: (281) 291-2412
E-mail: galesj@basf.com

Glenn Majeski
BASF Corporation
Tel: (973) 426-2848
E-mail: majeskg@basf.com