BASF opens new office in Melbourne

• Consolidates Noble Park and Thomastown offices
• Energy efficient office design creates a sustainable and employee-friendly environment

Melbourne, Australia, March 10, 2010 – BASF, the world's leading chemical company, has inaugurated a new sub-regional head office in Melbourne, Australia. The new office consolidates BASF's Noble Park and Thomastown facilities in a sustainable and energy efficient workspace designed to inspire creativity and innovation.

Ms. Saori Dubourg, Regional President of Functions and Country Management Asia Pacific of BASF, officiated at the opening together with BASF Managing Director for Australia, and New Zealand, Mr Ross Pilling, and Victoria’s Industry and Trade Minister, Hon. Jacinta Allan.
Dubourg said, “This new office, which centralizes our workforce in one location, can help create better synergies among our employees and inspire them to provide better services for our customers. It reflects a new way of thinking about workplace design.”

BASF’s new 1700 square metre office is located in the Freshwater Place precinct in Southbank. It contains a number of energy efficient design features such as open spaces, high energy and water efficiency, waste minimization, natural light and ventilation that contribute to reducing the environmental impact in the workplace. Situated on the southern banks of the Yarra River between the Southbank complex and Crown Towers, the north facing position of the office provides magnificent views over the river, Melbourne’s city, parks and gardens.

Pilling said, “At BASF, we support our strategic pillar of sustainable development in many different ways, including the concept of our office itself. BASF plays a decisive role in shaping the future because we believe it is our responsibility to find answers to global challenges such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility."

Around 80 staff members have been relocated from Noble Park, where BASF’s head office was based for 20 years. In addition, a total of 40 staff members were also moved from Thomastown following the recent acquisition of Ciba Specialty Chemicals.

At the inauguration of the new facility, Allan said, “It is encouraging that so many more companies are now taking sustainable development more seriously. The BASF head office has been designed with the well being of its staff in mind, as well as the environmental benefits, which contribute to improved workplace satisfaction and productivity."

Further information on BASF is available at www.basf.com