FLORHAM PARK, N.J., May 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- BASF Corporation and Gagen MacDonald today announced they received The Holmes Group's prestigious Gold SABRE Award in the "Change Management" category. The honor recognized the communications program that was designed to integrate employees of the former Engelhard Corporation into BASF following the company's acquisition by BASF in June 2006. The approximately $5 billion acquisition of Engelhard was the largest in BASF's 142-year corporate history. The BASF Integration Communications Program targeted internal and external stakeholders worldwide including more than 7,000 acquired employees at 99 sites, employees from six BASF divisions plus R&D and corporate functions, as well as customers, suppliers, joint venture partners, investors, communities and the media. The global Integration Communications Program was designed to deliver sensitive information in 12 languages, shift employee perceptions from "hostile takeover" to "friendly acquisition" and build a foundation for sustainable, profitable growth. The Holmes Group (http://www.holmesreport.com/) sponsors the annual SABRE (Superior Achievement in Branding and Reputation) Awards to recognize best-in- class work as determined by a panel of judges with corporate communications, agency and academic credentials. More than 1,800 entries were submitted by major corporations as well as government and non-profit organizations. The Gold SABRE Award represents the highest level of achievement. BASF - The Chemical Company. We don't make a lot of the products you buy. We make a lot of the products you buy better.(R) BASF Corporation, headquartered in New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF AG, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF employs more than 15,500 in North America and had sales of approximately $14.3 billion in 2006. For more information about BASF's North American operations, or to sign up to receive news releases by e-mail, visit http://www.basf.com/usa. BASF is the world's leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products, agricultural products and fine chemicals to crude oil and natural gas. As a reliable partner to virtually all industries, BASF's high-value products and intelligent system solutions help its customers to be more successful. BASF develops new technologies and uses them to meet the challenges of the future and open up additional market opportunities. It combines economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility, thus contributing to a better future. BASF has approximately 95,000 employees and posted sales of ?52.6 billion (approximately $66.1 billion) in 2006. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at http://www.basf.com/. Gagen MacDonald, LLC Gagen MacDonald, a strategy execution and employee engagement firm, consults and partners with leadership teams and their employees to drive business results. The firm is a leading internal communications advisor to many of the world's largest corporations and global brands across all industry segments. For more information about Gagen MacDonald, call +1-312-640-9100 or visit the website at http://www.gagenmacdonald.com/. DATASOURCE: BASF Corporation CONTACT: Mark Stephenson of BASF Corporation, +1-973-245-6072, ; or Erik Gonring of Gagen MacDonald, LLC, +1-312-673-7334, Web site: http://www.basf.com/usa http://www.basf.com/ http://www.gagenmacdonald.com/ http://www.holmesreport.com/

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