Apr 20 2005
The Board of Executive Directors of BASF Aktiengesellschaft, Ludwigshafen, has decided to continue with the company’s share buyback program, and plans to buy back shares for a further €1.5 billion in the course of 2005. The buyback can start in April. The aim of buying back shares is to reduce the equity ratio and increase earnings per share. The shares will be cancelled after the buy back program has been completed, thus reducing the share capital of BASF Aktiengesellschaft accordingly.
The share buyback program announced in February 2004, which was increased by €500 million to €1 billion in October 2004, was completed at the end of March 2005. As part of this program, a total of 21.3 million shares were bought back at an average price of €46.95. Of the repurchased shares, 15.4 million have already been cancelled. The remaining 5.9 million shares will also be cancelled in the short term.
Since the beginning of 1999, BASF has bought back more than 102 million shares for about €4.25 billion. This corresponds to 16.4 percent of BASF’s share capital as of 31.12.1998.
The Board of Executive Directors of BASF Aktiengesellschaft will again request authorization to buy back further shares at the Annual Meeting on April 28, 2005. The new authorization is intended to replace the existing one, which is valid until October 28, 2005.
http://www.corporate.basf.com