BASF ranks 25 on list of DiversityInc Top 50 Companies

FLORHAM PARK, NJ, May 12, 2017 – For the fifth consecutive year, BASF was named one of the Top 50 Companies for Diversity by DiversityInc. Since 2013, BASF has been recognized for its corporate performance in leadership accountability, talent pipeline, talent development and supplier diversity.

BASF was also ranked in the Top 15 Companies for Military Veterans, based on the company’s strong commitment to hiring veterans and the support BASF provides through its VETS employee resource group that aids in the transition from the military to corporate work environment. This year, BASF was also ranked on the list of Top 12 Companies for Recruitment, demonstrating diversity in workforce, new hires and the management talent pipeline.

“There are simply not enough qualified people to hire. A company’s ability to find the best and brightest, advance and retain them equitably is a decisive competitive advantage,” said Luke Visconti, Founder and CEO of DiversityInc. “The DiversityInc Top 50 have a decisive metrics-evidenced ability to treat people more fairly than other large companies. They also have a greater-than-average return for their shareholders.”

"At BASF, we believe in the power of diversity and inclusion to create rich connections with our people, our customers, and our communities,” said Wayne T. Smith, Chairman and CEO, BASF North America. “Individuals with different backgrounds and experiences bring new ideas and perspectives to the table. Diversity makes us stronger, and leveraging our differences enables us to bring the best of BASF to everything we do."

The DiversityInc Top 50 list, issued yearly since 2001, recognizes the nation’s top companies that excel in such areas as hiring, retaining and promoting women, minorities, people with disabilities, LGBT, and veterans.

“At BASF, we value the differences in our workforce as they are the key to the success of our business,” said Patricia Rossman, Chief Diversity Officer, BASF North America. “Receiving this prestigious honor from DiversityInc is a testament to our commitment to build an inclusive environment encompassing all aspects of diversity, including gender, race, experience, and points of view.”

The honorees were announced on May 2 in New York City, where more than 1,000 business leaders from across the country were present. The announcement dinner included a keynote address from Dr. Johnetta B. Cole, Director of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art (NMAfA), who was honored with DiversityInc's 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award.

For the entire Top 50 list, please visit 2017 DiversityInc Top 50 or follow the conversation online with the hashtag #DITop50.

About DiversityInc

The mission of DiversityInc is to bring education and clarity to the business benefits of diversity. The DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity list began in 2001, when many corporations were beginning to understand the business value of diversity-management initiatives. The 2017 Top 50 Companies for Diversity results will be featured on ‪DiversityInc.com and in DiversityInc magazine. DiversityInc is a VA certified veteran-owned business and a USBLN certified business owned by a person with a disability. For more information, visit www.diversityinc.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn @DiversityInc.

About BASF

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has more than 17,500 employees in North America, and had sales of $16.2 billion in 2016. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.us.

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. The approximately 114,000 employees in the BASF Group work on contributing to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into five segments: Chemicals, Performance Products, Functional Materials & Solutions, Agricultural Solutions and Oil & Gas. BASF generated sales of about €58 billion in 2016. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (BAS). Further information at  www.basf.com.

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