BASF Report 2020 Economic, environmental and social performance Key data
2020 2019 +/– 2020 2019 +/–
Sales million € 59,149 59,316 –0.3% Employees at year-end 110,302 117,628 –6.2% BASF EBITDA before special itemsa million € 7,435 8,324 –10.7% Personnel expenses million € 10,576 10,924 –3.2% EBITDAa million € 6,494 8,185 –20.7% Research and 2,086 2,158 –3.3% development expenses million € EBIT before special itemsa million € 3,560 4,643 –23.3% Greenhouse gas million metric tons a c 20.8 20.1 3.5% EBIT million € –191 4,201 . emissions of CO2 equivalents
Net income million € –1,060 8,421 . Energy efficiency in kilograms of sales Group 540 598 –9.7% production processes product/MWh ROCE % 1.7 7.7 – Accelerator sales million € 16,740 15,017 11.5% Earnings per share € –1.15 9.17 . Number of on-site sustainability 50 81 –38.3% Total assets million € 80,292 86,950 –7.7% audits of raw material suppliers Investments including 4,869 4,097 18.8% a Restated figures 2019; for more information, see the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements from 2020 b acquisitions million € page 232 onward b Additions to property, plant and equipment and intangible assets At a glance c Excluding sale of energy to third parties
Segment data
Chemicals Million € Materials Million €
Sales 2020 8,071 Sales 2020 10,736 2019 9,532 2019 11,466
EBIT before special items 2020 445 EBIT before special items 2020 835 2019 791 2019 1,003
Page 72 Page 78
Industrial Solutions Million € Surface Technologies Million €
Sales 2020 7,644 Sales 2020 16,659 2019 8,389 2019 13,142
EBIT before special items 2020 822 EBIT before special items 2020 484 2019 820 2019 722
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Nutrition & Care Million € Agricultural Solutions Million €
Sales 2020 6,019 Sales 2020 7,660 2019 6,075 2019 7,814
EBIT before special items 2020 773 EBIT before special items 2020 970 2019 793 2019 1,095
Page 94 Page 100 Welcome to BASF
Our integrated corporate report combines financial and sustainability reporting to inform shareholders, employees and the interested public about the 2020 business year.
On the cover: The new acetylene plant at the Verbund site in Ludwigshafen, Germany, was gradually started up over a period of several months and has been in operation since 2020. It has an annual production capacity of 90,000 metric tons of acetylene. Around 20 plants in the BASF Production Verbund use acetylene as a versatile chemical component. For more information on the acetylene plant, see basf.com/acetylene
This page: BASF presented a new, highly efficient process for chemically recycling battery materials at its Research Press Conference in December 2020. This recovers the lithium contained in batteries in high purity and with high yields. The process also reduces waste and greenhouse gas emissions compared with existing methods. For more information on battery recycling, see page 37
The people pictured in this report complied with the local coronavirus regulations in force at the time the photos were taken. About This Report 5 4 Contents Consolidated Financial Statements 212 Statement by the Board of Executive Directors 213 Detailed tables of contents can be found 1 Independent Auditor’s Report 214 on each colored chapter divider Statement of Income 222 To Our Shareholders 7 Statement of Income and Expense Recognized in Equity 223 Letter from the Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors 8 Balance Sheet 224 The Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE 11 Statement of Cash Flows 226 BASF on the Capital Market 12 Statement of Changes in Equity 227 Notes 228
2 5 Management’s Report 16 Overview 17 Overviews 313 The BASF Group 20 Ten-Year Summary 314 Our Strategy 26 Glossary and Trademarks 318 The BASF Group’s Business Year 50 Responsible Conduct Along the Value Chain 110 Forecast 152
About This Report 1 To Our Shareholders 2 Management’s Report 3 Corporate Governance 4 Consolidated Financial Statements 5 Overviews How We Create Value
How We Create Value The overview provides examples of how we create value for our shareholders, our company, the environment and society. It is modeled on the framework of the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC). 1 INPUTS We use a wide range of resources to implement our customer-focused strategy.
Financial Innovation Operations Environment Employees Partnerships 3 Our aim is to ensure solvency, We develop innovative Safety, quality, and reliability We use natural resources to Everything we do is based Trust-based relationships are limit financial risks and optimize solutions for and with our cus- are key to excellence in our manufacture products and on the expertise, knowledge, crucial to our license to operate the cost of capital. tomers to expand our leading production and plant opera- solutions with high value added motivation and conduct of and our reputation position. tions. for our customers. our employees.
€80.3 billion ~10,000 €2.9 billion 1.2 MMT 110,302 >250 Total assets R&D employees Capex Renewable raw materials Employees around the world Cooperations with research purchased institutes
42.8% €2.1 billion 55.0 million MWh 1,728 million m³ €10.6 billion >70,000 Equity ratio R&D expenses Electricity and steam demand Total water usage Personnel expenses Tier 1 suppliers
BUSINESS MODEL
Our corporate purpose: Innovative products and solutions Corporate Governance 167 We create chemistry for a sustainable future help to use resources more efficiently and overcome global challenges
Comprehensive product portfolio with high synergies Strategy Segments from basic chemicals to high value-added specialty products
Innovation Chemicals Efficient production thanks to integrated value chains and our Verbund system Sustainability In focus: Materials our customers Operations Industrial Solutions Eleven divisions organized into six segments ~90,000 customers from aligned with value chains, customer needs and market requirements Corporate Governance Report 168 almost all sectors and Digitalization countries Surface Technologies Global, customer-focused presence Portfolio Nutrition & Care with around 250 production sites worldwide, including six Verbund sites
People Agricultural Solutions Differentiated business strategies from cost leadership to custom system solutions
Our core values: Effective corporate governance Compliance 177 creative, open, responsible, entrepreneurial ensures responsible conduct along the value chain 1 The content of the graphic on pages 24 and 25 been audited within the scope of the relevant sections of the Management’s Report in which they appear.
OUTPUTS We focus on material sustainability topics and evaluate the opportunities and risks of our actions.
Financial Innovation Operations Environment Employees Partnerships
€59.1 billion ~950 ~45,000 43.4% 24.3% 678 Management and Supervisory Boards 180 Sales New patents worldwide Sales products Share of our waste recycled Women in leadership Suppliers screened through or thermally recovered positions Together for Sustainability
€3.6 billion €16.7 billion 6.2 MMT CO2 80.7% 82% 61 EBIT before special items Sales from Accelerator avoided by the Verbund and Cooling water recirculated Engagement index according Internal audits on our products combined heat and power to 2020 employee survey compliance standards generation
Compensation Report 183 OUTCOMES We want to increase our positive contributions, reduce negative impacts and carefully assess conflicting goals^1
Economic Environmental Social How we create value – an overview
We make positive contributions by We make positive contributions by operating our plants We make positive contributions because we efficiently and creating products that ▪ Driving forward growth, progress and value creation ▪ Offer products that improve people’s quality of life ▪ Strengthening our customers’ competitiveness and innovative ▪ Help to use natural resources more efficiently ▪ Provide attractive jobs, train young people and promote Report of the Supervisory Board 203 + strength with products and technologies ▪ Enable climate-smart mobility lifelong learning, health and diversity of BASF’s business model based on ▪ Accelerating the digital transformation of the industry ▪ Improve the capabilities of renewable energy ▪ Pay taxes and competitive wages and salaries ▪ Offering our investors an attractive dividend yield ▪ Reduce emissions and resource consumption ▪ Help to solve challenges (for example, COVID-19)
Potential negative impacts Negative impacts Potential negative impacts
▪ Weaker contributions to growth and value creation due to ▪ The emission of CO2 and other gases that damage the climate ▪ The risk of our suppliers violating labor, environmental and reduced demand from our customer industries as a result of the ▪ The consumption of raw materials and the creation of social standards in the production of raw materials coronavirus pandemic non-recyclable waste in our production Lower demand for employees in some areas as a result of the framework developed by the – ▪ Declaration of Conformity Pursuant to Section 161 AktG 210 ▪ A weaker share performance on the capital market ▪ The potential misuse of our products digitalization and efficiency gains We limit negative impacts through We limit negative impacts through We limit negative impacts through
▪ The disciplined implementation of our corporate strategy ▪ Our carbon management ▪ Our sustainability-oriented supply chain management ▪ Active portfolio management ▪ Our Circular Economy Program ▪ Projects to improve sustainability in the supply chain International Integrated Reporting ▪ The acceleration of our Excellence Program ▪ Sustainable water and energy management ▪ Our compliance program and our Code of Conduct ▪ Systematic cost management ▪ Our Responsible Care management ▪ Our training programs for employees ▪ Reducing the cost of capital ▪ Product stewardship and training
Declaration of Corporate Governance 211 IMPACT Council (IIRC) We achieve long-term business success by creating value for our shareholders, our company, the environment and society (see page 43).
1 The outcomes category shows examples of positive contributions as well as negative impacts and the measures we take to mitigate them. BASF Report 2020 25 For more information, see pages 24 and 25
BASF Report 2020 4 About This Report 1 To Our Shareholders 2 Management’s Report 3 Corporate Governance 4 Consolidated Financial Statements 5 Overviews
About This Report Content and structure The detailed GRI and Global Compact Index can be found in the online report. It provides an overview of all relevant information to Integrated reporting ▪▪ Integrated BASF Report serves as U.N. Global Compact fulfill the GRI indicators, as well as how we contribute to the United This integrated report documents BASF’s economic, environmental progress report Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the principles and social performance in 2020. We show how sustainability con- ▪▪ Sustainability reporting in accordance with Global of the U.N. Global Compact. The results of the limited assurance of tributes to BASF’s long-term success and how we as a company Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards this information can also be found there in the form of an assurance create value for our customers, employees, shareholders, business ▪▪ Financial reporting according to International Financial statement issued by KPMG AG Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft. partners, neighbors and the public. Reporting Standards (IFRS), the German Commercial We also publish additional information on sustainability in accor- Code and German Accounting Standards (GAS) dance with the industry-specific requirements (Chemicals Standard) The BASF Report online of the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB). HTML version with additional features: basf.com/report The BASF Report combines the major financial and sustain- PDF version for download: basf.com/basf_report_2020.pdf ability-related information necessary to comprehensively evaluate The information on the financial position and performance of the our performance. We select the report’s topics based on the follow- BASF Group comply with the requirements of International Financial Symbols ing reporting principles: materiality, sustainability context, complete- Reporting Standards (IFRS), and, where applicable, the German Explanations of the symbols used can be found on page 17. ness, balance and stakeholder inclusion. In addition to the integrated Commercial Code, German Accounting Standards (GAS) and the report, we publish further information online. The relevant links can guidelines on alternative performance measures from the European be found at the end of each chapter. Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA). Internal control mecha- nisms ensure the reliability of the information presented in this report. Our sustainability reporting has been based on GRI guidelines BASF’s Board of Executive Directors confirmed the effectiveness of and standards since 2003. We have applied the “Comprehensive” the internal control measures and compliance with the regulations option since the BASF Report 2017. for financial reporting.
We have been active in the International Integrated Reporting Material topics along the value chain form the focal points of Council (IIRC) since 2014 in order to discuss our experiences of reporting and define the limits of this report. We take three integrated reporting with other stakeholders and at the same time, dimensions into account in identifying and evaluating material receive inspiration for enhancing our reporting. This report addresses topics: the impact on BASF, the impact of BASF and relevance for elements of the IIRC framework by, for example, providing an our stakeholders. illustrative overview of how we create value or demonstrating the For more information on our selection of sustainability topics, see page 42 onward and relationships between financial and sustainability-related perfor- basf.com/materiality For a visualization of BASF’s business model based on the IIRC framework, see How We Create Value mance in the sections on the segments. The information in the on pages 24 and 25 and basf.com/how-we-create-value BASF Report 2020 also serves as a progress report on BASF’s For more information on our control and risk management system, see page 158 onward implementation of the 10 principles of the United Nations’ Global The 2020 BASF Online Report can be found at basf.com/report Compact and takes into consideration the Blueprint for Corporate For more information on the Global Reporting Initiative, see globalreporting.org Sustainability Leadership of the Global Compact LEAD platform. For more information on the Global Compact, see globalcompact.org and basf.com/en/global-compact 2020 PARTICIPANT The GRI and Global Compact Index can be found at basf.com/en/gri-gc The SASB index can be found at basf.com/sasb
BASF Report 2020 5 About This Report 1 To Our Shareholders 2 Management’s Report 3 Corporate Governance 4 Consolidated Financial Statements 5 Overviews
Data pro rata according to our interest. Work-related accidents at all sites of Historical Financial Information) and ISAE 3410 (Assurance of BASF SE and its subsidiaries as well as joint operations and joint Engagements on Greenhouse Gas Statements), the relevant inter- ▪▪ Relevant information included up to February 22, 2021 ventures in which we have sufficient authority in terms of safety national assurance standards for sustainability reporting. KPMG ▪▪ Report published each year in English and German management are compiled worldwide regardless of our interest and conducted a reasonable assurance of all disclosures on the most reported in full. Unless otherwise indicated, further data on social important nonfinancial key performance indicators,accelerator
All information and bases for calculation in this report are founded responsibility and transportation safety refers to BASF SE and its sales and CO2-neutral growth. Both steering-relevant indicators and on national and international standards for financial and sustain consolidated subsidiaries. their forecasts are part of the Management’s Report and are thus ability reporting. The data and information for the reporting period covered by the annual audit. The links and additional content were sourced from the expert units responsible using representative The disclosures and indicators in the Management’s Report on provided on the internet sites referred to in this report are not part of methods. The reporting period is the 2020 business year. Relevant sustainability in 2020 no longer include data on the divested the audited information. information is included up to the editorial deadline of February 22, construction chemicals business. Occupational and process safety 2021. The report is published each year in English and German. It is incidents in the construction chemicals business are reported until KPMG also conducted a limited assurance of the nonfinancial group prepared in German and the German version is authoritative. September 30, 2020. The integrated polyamide business acquired statement (NFS). from Solvay as of January 31, 2020, is included pro rata in the The Independent Auditor’s Report can be found on page 214 onward BASF Group’s scope of consolidation for its financial reporting com- figures for employees, energy consumption, greenhouse gas emis- An assurance statement on the sustainability information in the BASF Report 2020 can be found at prises BASF SE, with its headquarters in Ludwigshafen, Germany, sions (Scope 1 and 2) and occupational and process safety (LTI and basf.com/sustainability_information An assurance statement of the NFS can be found at basf.com/nfs-audit-2020 and all of its fully consolidated subsidiaries and proportionally PSI rate). Sales of products from the business acquired from Solvay consolidated joint operations. Shares in joint ventures and associ have already been integrated in the portfolio to be evaluated under ated companies are accounted for, if material, using the equity the Sustainable Solution Steering method. They will be classified Forward-looking statements and forecasts method in the BASF Group Consolidated Financial Statements and from 2021. All other sustainability indicators for 2020 do not yet are thus not included in the scope of consolidation. include the acquired polyamide business. This report contains forward-looking statements. These statements For more information on companies accounted for in the Consolidated Financial Statements, see the are based on current estimates and projections of the Board of The section “Employees” refers to employees active in a company Notes from page 233 onward Executive Directors and currently available information. Forward- within the BASF Group scope of consolidation as of December 31, The list of shares held can be found at basf.com/en/corporategovernance looking statements are not guarantees of the future developments 2020. and results outlined therein. These are dependent on a number of External audit factors; they involve various risks and uncertainties; and they are Our data collection methods for environmental protection and safety based on assumptions that may not prove to be accurate. Such risk are based on the recommendations of the International Council of Our reporting is audited by a third party. KPMG AG Wirtschafts factors include those discussed in Opportunities and Risks on Chemical Associations (ICCA) and the European Chemical Industry prüfungsgesellschaft has audited the BASF Group Consolidated pages 158 to 166. We do not assume any obligation to update the Council (CEFIC). In the section “Environmental Protection, Health Financial Statements and the Management’s Report and has forward-looking statements contained in this report above and and Safety,” we report all data including information on the emis- approved them free of qualification. The audit of the Consolidated beyond the legal requirements. sions and waste of the worldwide production sites of BASF SE, its Financial Statements is based on the likewise audited financial fully consolidated subsidiaries, and proportionally consolidated joint statements of the BASF Group companies. operations. BASF SE subsidiaries that are fully consolidated in the Group financial statements in which BASF holds an interest of less The limited assurance of the sustainability information contained in than 100% are included in full in environmental reporting. The emis- the Management’s Report was conducted in accordance with sions of proportionally consolidated joint operations are disclosed ISAE 3000 (Assurance Engagements other than Audits or Reviews
BASF Report 2020 6 Chapter 1 pages 7–15
Letter from the Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors 8
The Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE 11
BASF on the Capital Market 12
1To Our Share holders Letter from the Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors
About This Report 1 To Our Shareholders 2 Management’s Report 3 Corporate Governance 4 Consolidated Financial Statements 5 Overviews Letter from the Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors
flexibility and worked tirelessly to find tailor-made solutions for our customers – whether working from home or in the plants. I want to thank all employees for their great work!
In 2020, there was demand for raw materials and products for the pharmaceuti- cal and cleaning industries in particular. With our “Helping Hands” initiative, we provided assistance from the very beginning of the pandemic. At many BASF sites, we produced hand sanitizer and disinfectants and distributed these for free to hospitals and other institutions. In addition, we » purchased and donated more than 100 million protec- With our “Helping Hands” tive masks. initiative, we provided The coronavirus pandemic plunged the global assistance from the very economy into a deep recession. In the first half of 2020, production around the world plummeted in beginning of the pandemic. record time. The transportation, energy, consumer goods, construction industries saw the steepest drops. BASF was especially affected by the downturn in the automotive sector. Our most important customer industry was hit by collapsing demand, production stoppages and supply chain disruptions.
For the full year 2020, we achieved sales of €59.1 billion and EBIT before special The coronavirus pandemic was the defining event of the year 2020 and caused items of €3.6 billion. While we had communicated a significantly more positive the sharpest decline in global GDP in the post-war period. The health, social and outlook when we published the BASF Report 2019 on February 28, 2020, we had economic consequences were felt by people all over the world. For industry, and to withdraw this guidance on April 29, 2020. The indicators had shifted markedly. therefore for BASF too, the restrictions associated with the pandemic posed an But at the time, it was impossible to reliably estimate the duration and further enormous challenge. spread of the coronavirus pandemic or the future measures to contain it. On October 9, 2020, we gave a new outlook: Sales of €57 billion to €58 billion in 2020 We reacted quickly and decisively to the crisis. Our crisis teams coordinated as well as EBIT before special items of between €3.0 billion and €3.3 billion. Ulti- the necessary measures at our sites and used the strengths of our Verbund. We mately, a strong fourth quarter enabled us to exceed these forecasts. Thanks to were thus able to flexibly adapt our production to the needs of our customers, this year-end rally, our full-year sales almost matched the level of the previous year, safeguard the health of our employees and ensure reliable deliveries. In this while EBIT before special items was 23% lower. exceptional year, the BASF team demonstrated remarkable solidarity and
BASF Report 2020 8 About This Report 1 To Our Shareholders 2 Management’s Report 3 Corporate Governance 4 Consolidated Financial Statements 5 Overviews Letter from the Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors
Special items in EBIT totaled –€3.8 billion, compared with –€442 million in the plants will produce engineering plastics and thermoplastic polyurethane to serve previous year. The increase in special items was primarily attributable to the the growing demand in the markets of southern China and elsewhere in Asia. impairments we had to recognize in all segments in the third quarter as a result of the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Cash flows from operating activities The Asia Pacific region, especially China, is the key growth driver of global chem- amounted to €5.4 billion, down 27.6% compared ical production. Over the next 10 years, more than two-thirds of global growth in with the previous year. Free cash flow amounted to the chemical industry will take place in China. This trend became more pro- » €2.3 billion, after €3.7 billion in 2019. nounced in 2020 with China’s rapid economic recovery. With our new, fully inte- The dividend proposal grated Verbund site, we want to further expand our leading position as a western reflects the high The development of the BASF share price reflected chemical company in the world’s most important chemical market. the overall macroeconomic development. After sig- importance we place in a nificant downturns caused by the pandemic in the We also made progress with the further development of our portfolio in 2020. At reliable dividend even in first half of 2020, BASF’s share price recovered and the end of January, we completed the acquisition of Solvay’s integrated poly- stabilized over the second half of the year. The clos- amide 6.6 business for €1.3 billion. This acquisition broadens our polyamide difficult times. ing price of €64.72 was, however, still 3.9% below capabilities with innovative products and enhances our access to the most the level at the end of the previous year. Assuming important precursor as well as to growth markets in Asia and North and South that dividends were reinvested, BASF’s share performance rose by 2.3% in 2020. America. At the end of September, we closed the divestiture of our construction chemicals business to an affiliate of the global private equity firm Lone Star. Given The exceptionally strong adverse economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic the challenging environment, this was an outstanding team accomplishment. The also had a negative effect on the development of BASF Group’s free cash flow. purchase price on a cash and debt-free basis was €3.17 billion. We expect to Nevertheless, we will propose to the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting a dividend of close the sale of BASF’s pigments business to the Japanese fine chemicals €3.30 per share, a payment of €3.0 billion to shareholders for the 2020 business company DIC in the first half of 2021, subject to the pending approval of the U.S. year. This reflects the high importance we place in a reliable dividend even in competition authorities. difficult times. Despite the challenging global effects of the pandemic, We continued to drive forward our Excellence Program. Overall, we are well on we cannot neglect fundamental long-term challenges track to achieve the targeted €2 billion annual EBITDA contribution by the end of such as climate protection. For BASF, climate protec- » 2021. We were not quite able to achieve an accelerated implementation of all tion is a key responsibility and a crucial component of Despite the pandemic, contributions – from increases in sales and from cost savings – in this difficult our strategy. We want to contribute to a world that environment. But we reacted quickly here, and focused even more on efficiency offers a future with enhanced quality of life for every- we cannot neglect improvements. one. We are therefore working closely with our cus- challenges such as tomers and partners to develop even better solutions. The coronavirus pandemic-related restrictions also had a noticeable impact on With circular economy approaches, we want to further climate protection. the preparations for our planned major investment in a new Verbund site in decouple economic growth from resource consump- Guangdong in southern China. Nevertheless, we are still on schedule. Last year, tion and thus use limited resources even more efficiently. In some ways, we have we successfully started construction of the first plants. Starting in 2022, these been doing this for a long time: Our Verbund, for example, transforms by-products
BASF Report 2020 9 About This Report 1 To Our Shareholders 2 Management’s Report 3 Corporate Governance 4 Consolidated Financial Statements 5 Overviews Letter from the Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors
and waste into new products and energy. In many areas of the chemical industry, this way, we combine sustainability and digitalization into a highly innovative however, the use of resources can be further improved. offering for our customers.
With our Circular Economy Program, we have therefore set ourselves ambitious Innovations have made BASF the leading chemical company. I am convinced that targets: BASF has committed to transforming 250,000 metric tons of recycled our that our innovative power will continue to be an important success factor for and waste-based raw materials into new products each year as of 2025. And we profitable development in the future. Carbon manage- want to increase our sales generated with solutions for the circular economy to ment and the circular economy are important growth €17 billion by 2030 – this represents a doubling of the current figure. drivers across all industries. With tailor-made solutions, » we help our customers to further improve their sustain- In parallel, we are working on our energy transformation towards carbon neutrality. ability profile and that of their products – all the way to Carbon Management and This will decisively influence our future profitability and competitiveness. The carbon neutrality. Innovations therefore fuel BASF’s the circular economy are European Union, with its Green Deal, has set the ambitious target of climate sustainable growth. And this depends on excellent neutrality by 2050. With its strategy, BASF has taken a clear position. For us, R&D – which is exactly what we have at BASF. important growth drivers reducing CO2 emissions is immensely important. We have therefore committed to across all industries. climate-neutral growth until 2030. This means that we will further reduce our The coronavirus vaccination campaigns worldwide
specific CO2 emissions per kilogram of product sold, by an average of one-third. make me optimistic about 2021, but there are still many uncertainties. It will
To reduce CO2 emissions even further, we need the right political framework on take time for the global economy to return to pre-pandemic levels. And there is the one hand and groundbreaking technologies on the other. These technologies no shortage of new challenges. We will ensure that our customers are always are being developed in our comprehensive Carbon Management Program. the central focus of all our activities. Together with our customers, the BASF team works passionately to create long-term, profitable growth. I appreciate One important example is our steam crackers. They are currently powered by your support as we pursue this goal and thank you for your trust in BASF. natural gas. In the future, we want to operate them with electricity from renewable sources. For a world-scale cracker, this could mean an annual reduction of Yours,
1 million metric tons of CO2. However, to implement this we need very large vol- umes of electricity from renewable energies – and at internationally competitive prices. This, in turn, requires a long-term, integrated climate and industry policy Martin Brudermüller with supportive framework conditions at the national and international levels.
To create transparency, by the end of 2021, we will be the first chemicalcompany worldwide to provide our customers with a product carbon footprint for all of our 45,000 sales products. With our proprietary digital solution, we will be able to
determine the overall CO2 values for our products. This product carbon footprint
will be reported as CO2 units per metric ton of sales product and include all emissions until the product leaves the factory gate for delivery to the customer. In
BASF Report 2020 10 Der Vorstand der BASF SE
About This Report 1 To Our Shareholders 2 Management’s Report 3 Corporate Governance 4 Consolidated Financial Statements 5 Overviews The Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE
The Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE
As part of its long-term succession planning, the Supervisory Board appointed Dr. Melanie Maas- Brunner as a member of the Board of Executive Directors on December 17, 2020. As of Feb ruary 1, 2021, the Board of Executive Directors therefore temporarily comprises seven members and, following a transition period, will again be reduced to six members with the departure of Wayne T. Smith as of May 31, 2021. Dr. Martin Brudermüller, Dr. Hans-Ulrich Engel, Saori Dubourg Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors Vice Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors
Michael Heinz Dr. Markus Kamieth Dr. Melanie Maas-Brunner Wayne T. Smith
BASF Report 2020 11 About This Report 1 To Our Shareholders 2 Management’s Report 3 Corporate Governance 4 Consolidated Financial Statements 5 Overviews BASF on the Capital Market
BASF on the Capital BASF share performance the European EURO STOXX 50 index lost 3.2%. The global industry index MSCI World Chemicals gained 14.8%. Market ▪▪ BASF share price declines 3.9% in 2020 ▪▪ Assuming that dividends were reinvested, BASF’s share The assets of an investor who invested €1,000 in BASF shares at performance rose by 2.3% the end of 2010 and reinvested the dividends in additional BASF In 2020, the stock markets were dominated by the spread shares would have increased to €1,614 by the end of 2020. This of the coronavirus and the resulting social and economic The BASF share closed the 2020 stock market year at €64.72, a represents an annual yield of 4.9%. effects. decrease of 3.9% compared with the previous year’s closing price (€67.35). After the significant downturn in share prices caused by Despite the exceptionally high economic burden caused by the pandemic in the first half of 2020, BASF’s share price recovered the coronavirus pandemic, a dividend of €3.30 per share is to and stabilized over the second half of the year but remained slightly be proposed to the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting, as in the below the prior-year closing price. previous year. Based on the year-end share price for 2020, BASF shares continue to offer an attractive dividend yield of Assuming that dividends were reinvested, BASF’s share perfor around 5.1%. mance rose by 2.3% in 2020. The DAX 30, the benchmark index of the German stock market, rose by 3.5% over the same period, while
Long-term performance of BASF shares compared with indexes Change in value of an investment in BASF shares in 2020 Average annual increase with dividends reinvested With dividends reinvested; indexed
2015–2020 2.8% 5.0%