BASF Extends US$37 Cash Tender Offer to April 28, 2006

Ludwigshafen, Germany (ots/PRNewswire) -

BASF Aktiengesellschaft (Frankfurt: BAS; NYSE: BF [ADR]; LSE: BFA;
SWX: AN) today announced that, through its wholly owned subsidiary,
Iron Acquisition Corporation, it has extended the expiration date of
its US$37 cash tender offer for all of the issued and outstanding
shares of common stock of Engelhard Corporation (NYSE: EC) to 5:00
p.m., New York City time, on Friday, April 28, 2006. The tender offer
had previously been scheduled to expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City
time, on Friday, April 14, 2006.

On April 11, 2006, BASF received a letter from Engelhard's
financial advisor in which Engelhard requested a firm offer no later
than April 19, 2006. BASF continues its review of non-public
information provided by Engelhard and has not decided whether to
submit a revised offer to Engelhard's management and, if it does, at
what price.

BASF has been informed by The Bank of New York, the Depositary for
the offer, that, as of 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on April 14,
2006, a total of 654,180 shares of Engelhard common stock had been
tendered into the offer and not withdrawn. As a consequence of the
extension of the expiration date, holders of Engelhard common stock
may tender their shares until 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on
Friday, April 28, 2006, unless the offer is further extended.

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 intelligent system solutions and high-value products help its
customers to be more successful. BASF develops new technologies and
uses them to open up additional market opportunities. It combines
economic success with environmental protection and social
responsibility, thus contributing to a better future. In 2005, BASF
had approximately 81,000 employees and posted sales of more than
EUR42.7 billion. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in
Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA), New York (BF) and Zurich (AN). Further
information on BASF is available on the Internet at
http://www.basf.com.

BASF currently intends to solicit proxies for use at Engelhard's
2006 annual meeting of stockholders, or at any adjournment or
postponement thereof, to vote in favor of BASF's nominees identified
in the revised preliminary proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed with
the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), and to vote
on any other matters that shall be voted upon at Engelhard's 2006
annual meeting of stockholders. On February 27, 2006, BASF filed a
revised preliminary proxy statement on Schedule 14A with the SEC in
connection with this solicitation of proxies. All Engelhard
stockholders are strongly encouraged to read the revised preliminary
proxy statement and the definitive proxy statement when it is
available, because they contain important information. Engelhard
stockholders may obtain copies of the revised preliminary proxy
statement and related materials for free at the SEC's website at
http://www.sec.gov.

The identity of people who, under SEC rules, may be considered
"participants in a solicitation" of proxies from Engelhard
stockholders for use at Engelhard's 2006 annual meeting of
stockholders and a description of their direct and indirect interests
in the solicitation, by security holdings or otherwise, are contained
in the revised preliminary proxy statement on Schedule 14A that BASF
filed with the SEC on February 27, 2006.

This press release is provided for informational purposes only and
is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to
sell any securities of Engelhard Corporation. Any offers to purchase
or solicitation of offers to sell will be made only pursuant to the
tender offer statement (including the offer to purchase, the letter
of transmittal and other offer documents), which was filed with the
SEC on January 9, 2006. Engelhard stockholders are advised to read
these documents and any other documents relating to the tender offer
that are filed with the SEC carefully and in their entirety because
they contain important information. Engelhard stockholders may obtain
copies of these documents for free at the SEC's website at
http://www.sec.gov or by calling Innisfree M&A Incorporated, the
Information Agent for the offer, at +1-877-750-5837 (Toll Free from
the U.S. and Canada) or +00800-7710-9971 (Toll Free from Europe).

This press release contains forward-looking statements. All
statements contained in this press release that are not clearly
historical in nature or that necessarily depend on future events are
forward-looking, and the words "anticipate," "believe," "expect,"
"estimate," "plan," and similar expressions are generally intended to
identify forward-looking statements. These statements are based on
current expectations, estimates and projections of BASF management
and currently available information. They are not guarantees of
future performance, involve certain risks and uncertainties that are
difficult to predict and are based upon assumptions as to future
events that may not prove to be accurate.

Many factors could cause the actual results, performance or
achievements of BASF to be materially different from those that may
be expressed or implied by such statements. Such factors include
those discussed in BASF's Form 20-F filed with the SEC.

Michael Grabicki
Phone: +49-621-60-99938
Cell: +49-172-74-91891
Fax: +49-621-60-92693
michael.grabicki@basf.com
US media contact:
Jack Maurer
Phone: +1-973-245-6072
Cell: +1-973-519-2982
Fax: +1-973-245-6715
maurerj1@basf.com
Analysts/Investors contact:
Magdalena Moll
Phone: +49-621-60-48002
Fax: +49-621-60-22500
magdalena.moll@basf.com

Web site: http://www.basf.com

ots Originaltext: BASF
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Contact:
Michael Grabicki, +49-621-60-99938, mobile: +49-172-74-91891, or Fax:
+49-621-60-92693, michael.grabicki@basf.com, US Media Contact: Jack
Maurer, +1-973-245-6072, mobile: +1-973-519-2982, Fax:
+1-973-245-6715, maurerj1@basf.com, or Investors: Magdalena Moll,
+49-621-60-48002, Fax: +49-621-60-22500, magdalena.moll@basf.com