Firstly, concerning the development opportunities open to BASF we particularly note for example its ability to develop new products with a higher investment than before in the area of research. This notably concerns innovations in the GM sector in which this company has heavily invested in recent years. The company could also benefit from the rise in requirements from the Pacific Asia area, a market in which it is already particularly well placed.
The BASF Group currently holds shares in various companies, including 100% of the shares in BASF Coatings GmbH, 100% of the shares in BASF Services Holding GmbH, Ludwigshagen, 100% of the shares in BASF Schwarzheide, 100% of the shares in Polyurethanes BASF GmbH, Lemfoerde, 100% of the shares in Wintershal Holding AG, 100% of Kassel, 50% of the shares in Wingas GmbH Kassel and 50% of the shares in Styrenics in Frankfurt. It also has other subsidiaries in more than 170 countries around the world.