BASF Sets Bold New Strategy to Lead Green Transformation and Boost Shareholder Returns

BASF Sets Bold New Strategy to Lead Green Transformation and Boost Shareholder Returns

(IN BRIEF) BASF has unveiled a new corporate strategy aimed at becoming the leading chemical company supporting the green transformation of its customers. The company plans to focus on its core chemical businesses while giving more flexibility to standalone divisions like Battery Materials and Coatings. BASF will maintain strong capital discipline, aiming to return at least €12 billion to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks between 2025 and 2028. The strategy also focuses on improving efficiency, driving the green transformation, and fostering a performance-oriented culture within the company. Key goals include achieving an EBITDA of €10-12 billion and a return on capital employed of around 10% by 2028.

(PRESS RELEASE) LUDWIGSHAFEN, 27-Sep-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — BASF has announced a significant shift in its corporate strategy, positioning itself as the preferred chemical company supporting the green transformation of its customers. During the Capital Markets Day presentation, Dr. Markus Kamieth, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, highlighted the company’s core focus on optimizing its diverse chemical portfolio to drive growth and profitability across a variety of industries. BASF aims to increase value for shareholders by putting more emphasis on cash flow, tightening capital discipline, and pursuing cost-saving initiatives.

As part of its strategy, BASF will maintain its focus on delivering innovative chemical solutions and strengthening its leading market positions while offering more strategic flexibility to its standalone business segments. These changes come alongside plans to enhance capital allocation, with the company targeting a return of at least €12 billion to shareholders from 2025 to 2028 through dividends and share buybacks.

In the medium term, BASF has set several key financial targets, including reaching EBITDA of €10 billion to €12 billion by 2028, alongside a 10% return on capital employed (ROCE). The company’s new strategy, dubbed “Winning Ways,” revolves around four main pillars: Focus, Accelerate, Transform, and Win. These guide BASF’s approach to portfolio management, empowering operational divisions, driving the green transformation, and fostering a performance-driven company culture.

Under its Focus strategy, BASF is redefining how it manages its portfolio by distinguishing between core businesses—Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, and Nutrition & Care—and standalone businesses that serve specific industries, such as Battery Materials and Coatings. BASF also aims to create strategic flexibility for standalone divisions while capitalizing on its core businesses’ strong market positions and operational advantages.

Accelerating value creation, BASF plans to simplify its organization by streamlining operations, empowering business units, and leveraging digital tools like AI to boost efficiency. At the heart of its Transform strategy, BASF remains committed to a phased green transformation. The company will increase investments in renewable energy and feedstocks to meet customer demand for sustainable products while maintaining its climate protection goals, targeting net-zero emissions by 2050.

BASF’s site in Ludwigshafen, a cornerstone of its operations, will undergo structural adjustments to ensure long-term success, with asset closures and operational cost reductions being part of the plan. These changes, along with a focus on fostering a winning corporate culture, are key to achieving the company’s ambitious strategic goals.

In summation, BASF’s updated strategy reinforces its role as a leader in enabling the green transformation while ensuring sustainable growth and returns for shareholders.

About BASF
At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Around 112,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €68.9 billion in 2023. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the United States. Further information at www.basf.com.

Forward-looking statements and forecasts
This release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current estimates and projections of the Board of Executive Directors and currently available information. Forward looking statements are not guarantees of the future developments and results outlined therein. These are dependent on a number of factors; they involve various risks and uncertainties; and they are based on assumptions that may not prove to be accurate. BASF does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements contained in this release above and beyond the legal requirements.

Media Contacts:

Corporate Communications and
Government Relations:
Dr. Nina Schwab-Hautzinger
Phone: +49 621 60-42023
nina.schwab-hautzinger@basf.com

Investor Relations:
Dr. Stefanie Wettberg
Phone: +49 621 60-48002
stefanie.wettberg@basf.com

SOURCE: BASF SE