• Plant located in Social Business Industrial Park in Sarabo, Kashimpur, Gazipur

  • Focus on production and marketing of specially treated mosquito nets, under brand name Interceptor® utilizing BASF's technology

Dhaka, Bangladesh - March 23, 2012 - BASF Grameen Limited, a social business joint venture between BASF, the world's leading chemical company, and Grameen Healthcare Trust of Bangladesh, can now source from a local production plant located in Social Business Industrial Park in Sarabo, the plant owned and operated by Grameen Fabrics & Fashions Limited, will manufacture long lasting insecticide impregnated nets under the brand name Interceptor® that can prevent malaria infections effectively. These nets will be marketed by BASF Grameen Limited.

The plant was inaugurated at the hands of Nobel Laureate, Professor Muhammad Yunus and Mrs. Saori Dubourg, President Asia Pacific, BASF, at a public function held at the plant premises.

In his opening remarks, Professor Yunus said, "Social business is a non-dividend company to solve a specific social problem. We are very happy that BASF, the world's leading chemical company, has come forward to set up a social business in Bangladesh to reduce the incidence of malaria in Bangladesh. This joint venture will inspire other companies to come forward to create social business. I invite every company, big or small, to create a small social business company along with their existing company."

Speaking about this milestone achievement, Saori Dubourg said, "BASF Grameen combines BASF's social commitment with an innovative business model to improve healthcare for the people of Bangladesh. Health hazards from malaria remain a serious concern. With its products BASF can make a significant contribution to fight malaria. This is why this first local LLIN production facility will manufacture coated mosquito bed nets that offer effective protection against mosquitoes for several years."

BASF Grameen Limited was formed in 2009 to improve the health and business opportunities of the poor of Bangladesh, who would not have had this possibility on their own. The Interceptor® mosquito nets are the first product of this venture which aims to reduce insect-borne diseases, thus contributing to achieve key U. N. Millennium Development Goals related to health.

The mosquito nets produced by the joint venture are coated with a BASF product, the insecticide Fendona®. The net remains effective against mosquitoes for several years. It thus meets the World Health Organization (WHO) requirements for a "Long lasting insecticide impregnated net" (LLIN). According to the WHO, the protection provided by these nets against the mainly night-active vector mosquitoes is the most effective means of preventing malaria infections. The nets can retain their properties for up to 20 washes depending on local conditions.

Note to Editors:

Photos of the inaugurationat the hands of Nobel Laureate, Professor Muhammad Yunus and Saori Dubourg, President Asia Pacific, BASF,can be found under:http://basf.com/group/pressrelease/P-12-196

About BASF Grameen

Formed in 2009, BASF Grameen Limited is a social business joint venture between BASF SE and Grameen Healthcare Trust, Bangladesh. The joint venture aims to improve health and business opportunities of low-income communities in Bangladesh. With its commitment to improving public health via a social business joint venture, BASF Grameen is creating value from values.

About BASF

BASF is the world's leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. We combine economic success, social responsibility and environmental protection. Through science and innovation we enable our customers in almost all industries to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and system solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring healthy food and nutrition and helping to improve the quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF posted sales of about €73.5 billion in 2011 and had more than 111,000 employees as of the end of the year. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet atwww.basf.com

About Grameen Healthcare Trust

Grameen Healthcare Trust (GHT) is a non-profit organization established under the Trust Act of Bangladesh and founded by Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus. It was established with the goal of helping develop the health sector in Bangladesh fulfill the unmet need for health care services for the low income group. GHT not only involves itself in building up health institutions, but also supports other institutions working in the health sector. It also works to organize national and international support to support and undertake various health programs in Bangladesh.

About Grameen Fabrics & Fashions Limited

Grameen Fabrics and Fashions Limited (GFFL) is a social business company with a view to setting up textile based industry at Social Business Industrial Park, Sarabo, Kashimpur, Gazipur. The company comprises of two basic units, one unit is to producing goods to encounter specific social problems and its solutions. Another unit is to producing goods for export in order to generate employment and earn foreign exchange. Under GFFL, a specially treated mosquito net plant had already been established. The present production capacity is 3000 nets per day and it will increase 9000 pieces within 2013. GFFL is also going to set up a composite knitwear factory with production capacity of 20 tons fabrics and 60000 pieces garments per day along with all accessories right from yarn to finished garments.

Press contacts:

BASFGrameen Healthcare Trust

Istiaque Nizamee Shariful Islam

Mobile: +880-1713452892 Mobile: +880-1741233403

istiaque.nizamee@basf.comsharif@yunuscentre.org

BASF

Sonja Morweiser

Phone: +49-6216042117

sonja.morweiser@basf.com

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This press release was issued by BASF SE and was initially posted at http://www.basf.com/group/pressrelease/P-12-196 . It was distributed, unedited and unaltered, by noodls on 2012-03-23 10:14:09 AM. The issuer is solely responsible for the accuracy of the information contained therein.