6-K UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 6-K REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 August 20, 2003 BASF AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT (Exact name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter) BASF CORPORATION (Translation of Registrant's name into English) Carl Bosch Strasse 38, LUDWIGSHAFEN, GERMANY 67056 (Address of Principal Executive Offices) Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F Form 20-F X Form 40-F Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Yes No X If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the Registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- . August 20, 2003 P 376e Karin Moeschke Phone: +49 621 60-20732 Fax: +49 621 60-92693 karin.moeschke@basf-ag.de Ralf Sikorski new member of the Supervisory Board of BASF Aktiengesellschaft Effective August 7, 2003, Ralf Sikorski has been appointed as a new member of the Supervisory Board of BASF Aktiengesellschaft. He succeeds Gerhard Zibell, who resigned from the Supervisory Board with effect from July 31, 2003. Ralf Sikorski was born in Kelkheim near Frankfurt in 1961. After training as an installer and electrician for electrical systems, he started working at the Osterfeld coalmine in 1981. Sikorski has held a number of functions in the German Mining and Energy (IG BE) and Mining, Chemical and Energy Industries Unions (IG BCE) since 1988 and has been deputy regional manager of the IG BCE for the Hesse/Thuringia region since 1997. With effect from September 1, 2003 he will head the IG BCE's administration center in Ludwigshafen. Sikorski was appointed to the Supervisory Board by the municipal court in Ludwigshafen at the joint request of the BASF Group Works Council and the IG BCE. The appointment is valid until the next regular election of the Supervisory Board. Gerhard Zibell was a member of BASF's Supervisory Board since 1998. He resigned as a result of career changes. BASF is the world's leading chemical company, offering its customers a range of high-performance products, including chemicals, plastics, performance products, agricultural products, fine chemicals as well as crude oil and natural gas. Its distinctive approach to integration, known in German as "Verbund," is its strength. It enables BASF to achieve cost leadership and gives the company a competitive advantage. BASF conducts its business in accordance with the principles of sustainable development. In 2002, BASF had sales of about (euro)32 billion (circa $34 billion) and over 89,000 employees worldwide. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA), New York (BF), Paris (BA) and Zurich (BAS). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com. SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Current Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. BASF Aktiengesellschaft Date: August 20, 2003 By: /s/ Elisabeth Schick ------------------------------------ Name: Elisabeth Schick Title: Director Site Communications Ludwigshafen and Europe By: /s/ Christian Schubert ------------------------------------ Name: Christian Schubert Title: Director Corporate Communications BASF Group