Independent Auditor’s Report¹

To BASF SE, Ludwigshafen am Rhein

Report on the Audit of the Consolidated Financial Statements and of the Group Management Report

Opinions

We have audited the Consolidated Financial Statements of BASF SE and its subsidiaries (the Group), which comprise the balance sheet as at December 31, 2020, statement of income, statement of income and expense recognized in equity, statement of cash flows, statement of equity for the financial year from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020 and Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. In addition, we have audited the Group Management Report of BASF SE for the financial year from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020.

In accordance with German legal requirements we have not audited the content of those components of the Group Management Report specified in the “Other Information” section of our auditor’s report.

The Group Management Report contains cross-references which are not intended to use by law and are identified as unaudited. In accordance with the German legal requirements we have not audited the content of those cross-references and the related referenced information.

In our opinion, on the basis of the knowledge obtained in the audit,

• the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements comply, in all material respects, with the IFRSs as adopted by the EU, and the additional requirements of German commercial law pursuant to Section 315e (1) of the German Commercial Code (HGB) and full IFRS and, in compliance with these requirements, give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, and financial position of the Group as at December 31, 2020, and of its financial performance for the financial year from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020, and
• the accompanying Group Management Report as a whole provides an appropriate view of the Group’s position. In all material respects, this Group Management Report is consistent with the Consolidated Financial Statements, complies with German legal requirements and appropriately presents the opportunities and risks of future development. Our opinion on the Group Management Report does not cover the content of those parts of the Group Management Report specified in the “Other Information” section of our auditor´s report. The Group Management Report contains cross-references which are not legally required and are identified as unaudited. Our opinion does not cover those cross-references and the referenced information.

Pursuant to Section 322 (3) sentence 1 HGB, we declare that our audit has not led to any reservations relating to the legal compliance of the Consolidated Financial Statements and of the Group Management Report.

Basis for the Opinions

We conducted our audit of the Consolidated Financial Statements and of the Group Management Report in accordance with Section 317 HGB and the EU Audit Regulation No. 537/2014 (referred to subsequently as “EU Audit Regulation”) and in compliance with German Generally Accepted Standards for Financial Statement Audits promulgated by the Institute of Public Auditors in Germany (Institut der Wirtschaftsprüfer, IDW). Our responsibilities under those requirements and principles are further described in the “Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Consolidated Financial Statements and of the Group Management Report” section of our auditor’s report. We are independent of the group entities in accordance with the requirements of European law and German commercial and professional law, and we have fulfilled our other German professional responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. In addition, in accordance with Article 10 (2) point (f) of the EU Audit Regulation, we declare that we have not provided non-audit services prohibited under Article 5 (1) of the EU Audit Regulation. We believe that the evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinions on the Consolidated Financial Statements and on the Group Management Report.

Key Audit Matters in the Audit of the Consolidated Financial Statements

Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgment, were of most significance in our audit of the Consolidated Financial Statements for the financial year from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020. These matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the Consolidated Financial Statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters.

Recoverability of goodwill

For information on the accounting principles applied, please refer to Note 1.4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The underlying assumptions used in the calculation and the disclosures on the impairment tests performed are included in Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Financial statement risk

Intangible assets in the Consolidated Financial Statements of BASF SE include goodwill in the amount of €6,959 million. Goodwill accounts for 8.7% of total assets and thus has a material impact on the company’s net assets. Goodwill must be tested for impairment annually and whenever there is an indication that goodwill may be impaired. Due to the demand declines and the expected slow recovery in the automotive and aviation industries, the goodwill impairment testing resulted in impairments of €786 million in the reporting year in the cash-generating unit Surface Treatment in the Surface Technologies segment.

Goodwill impairment testing is based on a range of discretionary assumptions. These include the forecasts for future cash inflows in the detailed planning period, the assumed growth rate for subsequent periods and the cost of capital. These assumptions have a material impact on the recoverability of goodwill. The growth forecasts of the Board of Executive Directors are associated with risks and can be revised in light of volatile raw materials prices and an instable macroeconomic environment.

There is the risk for the financial statements that an impairment as of the balance sheet date is not identified or that an impairment as of the balance sheet date is not recognized with an appropriate amount. In addition, there is also a risk that the disclosures in the Notes on the key assumptions are not appropriate and complete.

Our audit approach

We consulted our valuation specialists in order to assess, among other things, the appropriateness of the key assumptions as well as the Group’s methods of calculation.

We examined the forecast for the expected business and earnings development in the detailed planning period, in particular with respect to whether the expected development of the relevant sales markets were given appropriate consideration and are consistent with the current budgets adopted by the Board of Executive Directors and the Supervisory Board. We compared internal growth forecasts with industry expectations and those of significant competitors and we assessed whether assumptions contained in the planning regarding the future development of margins and the amount of investments are appropriate. Our review of the appropriateness of the budgets adopted by the Board of Executive Directors and the Supervisory Board also included a comparison of planning in past business years with the results actually achieved. For selected units, we examined whether reasons for not reaching planned values in the past were given appropriate consideration in current planning, to the extent that this was relevant.

We assessed the appropriateness of the assumed growth rate for the period following the detailed planning period on the basis of industry-specific and macroeconomic studies. We evaluated the methodological appropriateness of the calculation and the appropriateness of the weighted cost of capital rates. To this end, we calculated our own expected values for the assumptions and data underlying the weighted cost of capital rates and compared these with the assumptions and data used.

Finally, we assessed whether the disclosures in the Notes on the key assumptions are appropriate and complete.

Our observations

The assumptions and data underlying the calculations of the Board of Executive Directors are acceptable overall. The disclosures in the Notes on the key assumptions are appropriate and complete.

The acquisition of Solvay’s polyamide business

For information on the accounting principles applied, please refer to Note 1.4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Information on the acquisition can be found in Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements onward.

Financial statement risk

On January 31, 2020, BASF acquired Solvay’s global polyamide business. The total acquisition costs amounted to €1,319 million. Taking into account the acquired net assets of €1,299 million, goodwill amounted to €20 million.

As a rule, the acquired identifiable assets and assumed liabilities are recognized at fair value on the date of acquisition in accordance with IFRS 3. To identify and assess the acquired identifiable assets and assumed liabilities, BASF consulted an external expert.

Identifying and assessing the acquired intangible assets are complex and based on the discretionary assumptions of the Board of Executive Directors. The key assumptions are the projected development of sales and margins in the acquired business, the license rates used in assessments based on the license price analogy method, the underlying useful lives of the identified assets and the cost of capital.

There is the risk for the financial statements that the acquired intangible assets are inaccurately identified and/or valued incorrectly. In addition, there is also a risk that the disclosures in the Notes are not complete and appropriate.

Our audit approach

First, we gained an understanding of the acquisition transaction by surveying employees in the accounting and controlling units as well as by evaluating the relevant contracts.

We assessed the competence, skills and objectivity of the independent expert contracted by BASF. Moreover, against the backdrop of our knowledge of BASF’s business model, we evaluated the identification process for the acquired assets and assumed liabilities for compliance with the requirements under IFRS 3. We examined the valuation methods used for compliance with the relevant accounting principles.

We consulted our valuation specialists in order to assess, among other things, the appropriateness of the identification and valuation methods as well as the assumptions used therein.

We discussed the expected development of sales and margins with the persons responsible for planning. Moreover, we evaluated the consistency of the assumptions with external market estimates. We compared the license rates used in the valuation of intangible assets with reference values from relevant external databases. We evaluated the applied useful lives based on conversations with the client’s experts and on the underlying product life cycles.

Moreover, we satisfied ourselves of the methodological appropriateness of the calculation and the appropriateness of the weighted cost of capital rates. We compared the assumptions and data underlying the cost of capital, in particular the risk-free rate, the market risk premium and the beta factor, with our own assumptions and publicly available data.

In order to assess the accuracy of the measurement, we reproduced selected calculations taking into account risk-based considerations. Finally, we assessed whether the disclosures in the Notes on the acquisition of the polyamide business are complete and appropriate.

Our observations

The underlying approach for the identification and valuation of the acquired assets and assumed liabilities is appropriate and consistent with the applicable accounting principles.

The key assumptions and data are appropriate and the presentation in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements is complete and appropriate.

Recoverability of the shareholding in Wintershall Dea

For information on the accounting principles applied and the underlying assumptions used in the calculation, please refer to Note 10.2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Financial statement risk

In the Consolidated Financial Statements of BASF SE, shares in Wintershall Dea in the amount of €10,199 million are reported under non-integral shareholdings accounted for using the equity method. The shareholding in Wintershall Dea accounts for 12.7% of total assets and thus has a material influence on the company’s net assets.

The carrying amount of Wintershall Dea is calculated using the equity method. Impairments of €843 million on assets belonging to Wintershall Dea were taken into account. If, in addition to this, there are indicators for an impairment of an equity-accounted shareholding as a whole, the company determines the recoverable amount as of the reporting date and compares this with the carrying amount. The recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs to sell and the value in use of the shareholding. The recoverable amount is determined using the discounted cash flow method. If the carrying amount is higher than the recoverable amount, this results in an impairment.

The calculation of the recoverable amount of the shareholding in the Wintershall Dea is complex and based on discretionary assumptions. These include, in particular, BASF’s forecasts on production volumes of Wintershall Dea’s oil and gas fields based on expected license terms and production profiles, the development of oil and gas prices, and the cost of capital.

After carrying out impairment testing, the company did not identify a need for an impairment of its shareholding in Wintershall Dea as a whole.

There is the risk for the financial statements that a decline in the value of the shareholding as a whole as of the balance sheet date was not identified. In addition, there is also the risk that the associated disclosures in the Notes are not appropriate and complete.

Our audit approach

From explanations provided by employees in accounting, we gained an understanding of the company’s process to identify indicators for impairment as well as of the determination of the recoverable amount. In doing so, we assessed, among other things, whether the calculation of the recoverable amount of the shareholding in Wintershall Dea is consistent with the relevant accounting principles and whether the key assumptions made in this calculation are appropriate.

We discussed the projected development of production volumes and oil and gas prices with the persons responsible for planning. We evaluated the production profiles used in the measurement of the exploration and production business’s assets, taking into account assessments by experts contracted by Wintershall Dea. In order to assess its suitability as a basis for calculation, we had the oil and gas price scenario used by the company explained to us. To assess its appropriateness, we compared the oil and gas price scenario used by BASF with the published forecasts of industry associations, analysts, international institutions and other market participants.

In consultation with our valuation specialists, we furthermore satisfied ourselves of the methodological appropriateness of the calculation and the appropriateness of the weighted cost of capital rates. We compared the assumptions and data underlying the cost of capital, in particular the risk-free rate, the market risk premium and the beta factor, with our own assumptions and publicly available data.

In order to assess the accuracy of the measurement of the interest in Wintershall Dea, we reproduced selected calculations taking into account risk-based considerations.

Finally, we assessed whether the disclosures in the Notes on the recoverability of the shareholding in Wintershall Dea as a whole are appropriate and complete.

Our observations

The underlying calculation method for the impairment test of the shareholding in Wintershall Dea as a whole is appropriate and consistent with the applicable accounting principles.

The company’s assumptions and data underlying the measurement are appropriate. The associated disclosures in the notes are appropriate and complete.

Impairments of property, plant and equipment

For information on the accounting principles applied, please refer to Note 1.4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The development of property, plant and equipment, including a list of the impairments, can be found in Note 15 from onward in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Financial statement risk

As of December 31, 2020, property, plant and equipment in the amount of €19,647 million were recognized in the Consolidated Financial Statements of BASF SE. Depreciation and amortization of property plant and equipment in the 2020 business year included impairments of €2,059 million. These impairments had a material impact on the group’s net assets and results of operations in the business year ended December 31, 2020.

If there are indications for an impairment of assets, the company determines the recoverable amount as of the balance sheet date and compares this with the respective carrying amount. If the carrying amount is higher than the recoverable amount, an impairment must be recognized. The recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs to sell and the value in use of the shareholding. The recoverable amount is determined using the discounted cash flow method. In general, the determination of the recoverable amount takes place at the level of cash-generating units.

Impairment testing of assets using the discounted cash flow method is complex and based on a range of discretionary assumptions. These include, in particular, the projected cash flows as well as the cost of capital rates used.

There is the risk for the financial statements that an impairment as of the balance sheet date is not recognized with an appropriate amount. In addition, there is also a risk that the disclosures in the Notes on the key assumptions are not appropriate and complete.

Our audit approach

In a first step, we evaluated the design and establishment of controls put in place by BASF for the valuation of property, plant and equipment. In discussions with representatives of the group from corporate management, accounting and controlling, we gained an understanding of the specific valuation risks identified by the company and we learned about the approaches used by the company to determine impairments.

With regard to the valuation model, we assessed whether the valuation methodology is consistent with the relevant valuation principles and we confirmed the mathematical accuracy via modeling. In consultation with our valuation specialists, we satisfied ourselves of the methodological appropriateness of the calculation and the appropriateness of the weighted cost of capital rates used. To this end, we calculated our own expected values for the assumptions and data underlying the weighted cost of capital rates and compared these with the assumptions and data used.

In addition, we evaluated whether the assumptions and forecasts of future cash flows underlying the valuations were based on appropriate and acceptable assumptions. To this end, we sought explanations of these assumptions from the persons responsible for planning and we evaluated the effects of the assumptions on the planning of future cash flows. Through comparisons to other forecasts internally available within the company, we ascertained their consistency. If the identified impairments resulted from changes in the market environment, we assessed the appropriateness of the underlying assumptions about expected cash flows and compared these with external market estimates. We then discussed the calculated valuation results with BASF and carried out the resulting accounting treatment of the valuation results.

Finally, we assessed whether the disclosures in the Notes on the key assumptions are appropriate and complete.

Our observations

The underlying approach for impairment testing for the above-mentioned property, plant and equipment, including the valuation method, is consistent with accounting principles. The assumptions and data used by the group are appropriate. The disclosures in the Notes on the key assumptions are appropriate and complete.

Other Information

The Board of Executive Directors and the Supervisory Board are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the following components of the Group Management Report, whose content was not audited:

• the information of the integrated non-financial statement which is identified as unaudited
• the corporate governance statement in the section Corporate Governance of the Group Management Report, and
• the disclosures which are not normally part of the Group Management Report and which are identified as unaudited.

Additionally, the other Information comprises the remaining parts of the BASF Report 2020.

The other Information does not comprise the Consolidated Financial Statements, the audited parts of the Group Management Report and our auditor’s report.

Our opinions on the Consolidated Financial Statements and on the Group Management Report do not cover the other information, and consequently we do not express an opinion or any other form of assurance conclusion thereon.

In connection with our audit, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in so doing, to consider whether the other information

• is materially inconsistent with the Consolidated Financial Statements, with the Group Management Report information audited for content or our knowledge obtained in the audit, or
• otherwise appears to be materially misstated.

If we conclude, based on the work we have conducted, that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are obligated to report on this fact. We do not have anything to report in this regard.

Responsibilities of the Board of Executive Directors and the Supervisory Board for the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Group Management Report

The Board of Executive Directors is responsible for the preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements that comply, in all material respects, with IFRSs as adopted by the EU and the additional requirements of German commercial law pursuant to Section 315e (1) HGB and full IFRS and that the Consolidated Financial Statements, in compliance with these requirements, give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position, and financial performance of the Group. In addition, the Board of Executive Directors is responsible for such internal control as they have determined necessary to enable the preparation of Consolidated Financial Statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Board of Executive Directors is responsible for assessing the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern. They also have the responsibility for disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern. In addition, they are responsible for financial reporting based on the going concern basis of accounting unless there is an intention to liquidate the Group or to cease operations, or there is no realistic alternative but to do so.

Furthermore, the Board of Executive Directors is responsible for the preparation of the Group Management Report that, as a whole, provides an appropriate view of the Group’s position and is, in all material respects, consistent with the Consolidated Financial Statements, complies with German legal requirements, and appropriately presents the opportunities and risks of future development. In addition, the Board of Executive Directors is responsible for such arrangements and measures (systems) as they have considered necessary to enable the preparation of a Group Management Report that is in accordance with the applicable German legal requirements, and to be able to provide sufficient appropriate evidence for the assertions in the Group Management Report.

The Supervisory Board is responsible for overseeing the Group’s financial reporting process for the preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements and of the Group Management Report.

Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Consolidated Financial Statements and of the Group Management Report

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the Consolidated Financial Statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and whether the Group Management Report as a whole provides an appropriate view of the Group’s position and, in all material respects, is consistent with the Consolidated Financial Statements and the knowledge obtained in the audit, complies with the German legal requirements and appropriately presents the opportunities and risks of future development, as well as to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinions on the Consolidated Financial Statements and on the Group Management Report.

Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with Section 317 HGB and the EU Audit Regulation and in compliance with German Generally Accepted Standards for Financial Statement Audits promulgated by the Institut der Wirtschaftsprüfer (IDW) will always detect a material misstatement. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these Consolidated Financial Statements and this Group Management Report.

We exercise professional judgment and maintain professional skepticism throughout the audit. We also:

• Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the Consolidated Financial Statements and of the Group Management Report, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinions. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.
• Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit of the Consolidated Financial Statements and of arrangements and measures (systems) relevant to the audit of the Group Management Report in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of these systems.
• Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used by the Board of Executive Directors and the reasonableness of estimates made by the Board of Executive Directors and related disclosures.
• Conclude on the appropriateness of the Board of Executive Directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in the auditor’s report to the related disclosures in the Consolidated Financial Statements and in the Group Management Report or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our respective opinions. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our auditor’s report. However, future events or conditions may cause the Group to cease to be able to continue as a going concern.
• Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the Consolidated Financial Statements, including the disclosures, and whether the Consolidated Financial Statements present the underlying transactions and events in a manner that the Consolidated Financial Statements give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and financial performance of the Group in compliance with IFRSs as adopted by the EU and the additional requirements of German commercial law pursuant to Section 315e (1) HGB and full IFRS.
• Obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the financial information of the entities or business activities within the Group to express opinions on the Consolidated Financial Statements and on the Group Management Report. We are responsible for the direction, supervision and performance of the group audit. We remain solely responsible for our opinions.
• Evaluate the consistency of the Group Management Report with the Consolidated Financial Statements, its conformity with law, and the view of the Group’s position it provides.
• Perform audit procedures on the prospective information presented by the Board of Executive Directors in the Group Management Report. On the basis of sufficient appropriate audit evidence we evaluate, in particular, the significant assumptions used by the Board of Executive Directors as a basis for the prospective information, and evaluate the proper derivation of the prospective information from these assumptions. We do not express a separate opinion on the prospective information and on the assumptions used as a basis. There is a substantial unavoidable risk that future events will differ materially from the prospective information.

We communicate with the audit committee regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit.

We also provide the audit committee with a statement that we have complied with the relevant independence requirements, and communicate with them all relationships and other matters that may reasonably be thought to bear on our independence, and where applicable, the related safeguards.

From the matters communicated with those charged with governance, we determine those matters that were of most significance in the audit of the Consolidated Financial Statements of the current period and are therefore the key audit matters. We describe these matters in our auditor’s report unless law or regulation precludes public disclosure about the matter.

Other Legal and Regulatory Requirements

Report on the Assurance in accordance with Section 317 (3b) HGB on the Electronic Reproduction of the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Group Management Report Prepared for Publication Purposes

We have performed assurance work in accordance with Section 317 (3b) HGB to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the reproduction of the consolidated financial statements and the group management report (hereinafter the “ESEF documents”) contained in the file that can be downloaded by the issuer from the electronic client portal with access protection, “basf-gruppe-2020-12-31.zip“ (SHA256-hash value: 82cc4e309e39828deed8d847fadf9e0d1adf87cacaa62c0fa75f305e2421f883) and prepared for publication purposes complies in all material respects with the requirements of Section 328 (1) HGB for the electronic reporting format (“ESEF format”). In accordance with German legal requirements, this assurance only extends to the conversion of the information contained in the consolidated financial statements and the group management report into the ESEF format and therefore relates neither to the information contained in this reproduction nor any other information contained in the above-mentioned electronic file.

In our opinion, the reproduction of the consolidated financial statements and the group management report contained in the above-mentioned electronic file and prepared for publication purposes complies in all material respects with the requirements of Section 328 (1) HGB for the electronic reporting format. We do not express any opinion on the information contained in this reproduction nor on any other information contained in the above-mentioned file beyond this reasonable assurance opinion and our audit opinion on the accompanying consolidated financial statements and the accompanying group management report for the financial year from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020 contained in the “Report on the Audit of the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Group Management Report” above.

We conducted our assurance work on the reproduction of the consolidated financial statements and the group management report contained in the above-mentioned electronic file in accordance with Section 317 (3b) HGB and the Exposure Draft of the IDW Assurance Standard: Assurance in accordance with Section 317 (3b) HGB on the Electronic Reproduction of Financial Statements and Management Reports Prepared for Publication Purposes (ED IDW AsS 410). Accordingly, our responsibilities are further described below. Our audit firm has applied the IDW Standard on Quality Management 1: Requirements for Quality Management in Audit Firms (IDW QS 1).

The company’s Board of Executive Directors is responsible for the preparation of the ESEF documents including the electronic reproduction of the consolidated financial statements and the group management report in accordance with Section 328 (1) sentence 4 item 1 HGB and for the tagging of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with Section 328 (1) sentence 4 item 2 HGB.

In addition, the company’s Board of Executive Directors is responsible for the internal controls they consider necessary to enable the preparation of ESEF documents that are free from material intentional or unintentional non-compliance with the requirements of Section 328 (1) HGB for the electronic reporting format.

The company’s Board of Executive Directors is also responsible for the submission of the ESEF documents together with the auditor’s report and the attached audited consolidated financial statements and audited group management report as well as other documents to be published to the operator of the German Federal Gazette (Bundesanzeiger).

The supervisory board is responsible for overseeing the preparation of the ESEF documents as part of the financial reporting process.

Our objective is to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the ESEF documents are free from material intentional or unintentional non-compliance with the requirements of Section 328 (1) HGB. We exercise professional judgement and maintain professional skepticism throughout the assurance work. We also:

• Identify and assess the risks of material intentional or unintentional non-compliance with the requirements of Section 328 (1) HGB, design and perform assurance procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain assurance evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our assurance opinion.
• Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the assurance of the ESEF documents in order to design assurance procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an assurance opinion on the effectiveness of these controls.
• Evaluate the technical validity of the ESEF documents, i.e. whether the electronic file containing the ESEF documents meets the requirements of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/815 on the technical specification for this electronic file.
• Evaluate whether the ESEF documents enable an XHTML reproduction with content equivalent to the audited consolidated financial statements and the audited group management report.
• Evaluate whether the tagging of the ESEF documents with Inline XBRL technology (iXBRL) enables an appropriate and complete machine-readable XBRL copy of the XHTML reproduction.

Further Information pursuant to Article 10 of the EU Audit Regulation

We were elected as group auditor by the annual general meeting on June 18, 2020. We were engaged by the Chairwomen of the audit committee on September 7, 2020. We have been the group auditor of BASF SE without interruption since the financial year 2006.

We declare that the opinions expressed in this auditor’s report are consistent with the additional report to the audit committee pursuant to Article 11 of the EU Audit Regulation (long-form audit report).

German Public Auditor Responsible for the Engagement

The German Public Auditor responsible for the engagement is Dr. Stephanie Dietz.

Frankfurt am Main, February 23, 2021

KPMG AG Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft [Original German version signed by:]