Distribution to Shareholders and Financing
The content of this section is not part of the statutory audit of the annual financial statements but has undergone a separate limited assurance by our auditor.
The content of this section is voluntary, unaudited information, which was critically read by the auditor.
Distribution to Shareholders
BASF has set itself the target of distributing at least €12 billion to shareholders from 2025 to 2028 through a combination of dividends and share buybacks.
Specifically, the company intends to pay a dividend of at least €2.25 per share or around €2 billion each year. The proposed dividend1 for the 2025 business year is consequently €2.25 per share (dividend for the 2024 business year: €2.25 per share). The total dividend distribution of at least around €8 billion over the four-year period will be supplemented by share buybacks of at least around €4 billion.
As announced as part of the “Winning Ways” strategy, share buybacks were planned to start in 2027 at the latest. In view of the cash inflows already received and still expected, in particular from portfolio measures, the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE has resolved to buy back shares with a volume of up to €1.5 billion between November 2025 and the end of June 2026. This accelerated share buyback is part of the share buyback announced in September 2024 for a total of at least €4 billion by the end of 2028. BASF SE will redeem the repurchased shares and reduce the share capital accordingly.
Financing
BASF intends to significantly reduce its net debt. Maturities from outstanding bonds and bank loans will allow a significant reduction in debt in 2026. For the scheduled repayment of these liabilities, we expect cash outflows of around €2.2 billion in 2026. To optimize our maturity profile, we continue to have medium- to long-term corporate bonds and our global commercial paper program at our disposal (for more information, see Financing Policy and Credit Ratings).
BASF continues to strive for a single A credit rating, which ensures unrestricted access to financial and capital markets.
1 Dividend proposed by the Board of Executive Directors