April 29 (Bloomberg) -- Juergen Hambrecht, chief executive of BASF AG, speaks at the annual shareholder meeting in Mannheim, Germany, about the company's performance in 2003, its first-quarter earnings and the outlook for 2004. BASF AG, the world's biggest chemical maker, said first-quarter profit rose 17 percent to 515 million euros ($609 million). (Excerpt)

01:19 Hambrecht discusses the highlights of performance in 2003.
01:23 Market conditions in 2003 and "optimistic" outlook for 2004
01:03 Share price performance and BASF's shareholders
00:43 Hambrecht discusses dividend and share buyback program.
01:18 Sales, operating income, costs and cash flow in 2003
03:22 Hambrecht discusses performance by business unit in 2003.
01:27 Hambrecht discusses performance by region in 2003.
01:31 First-quarter performance and "grounds for confidence"
00:40 EU expansion; outlook for costs, sales and earnings in 2004
01:43 Market share; challenges and industry consolidation
05:56 Hambrecht gives details of BASF's strategy and targets.
02:41 New corporate logo; "on the right course" with strategy
02:41 Outlook for chemicals industry; German economic reform
00:48 "Our roots are still here in Germany."

Running time 26:35.

Last Updated: April 29, 2004 06:25 EDT