BASF proposes dividend of ┬2.20 per share

(BASF) -- The Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE has decided to propose to the Annual Meeting on May 6, 2011 a dividend of ┬2.20 per share for 2010. The decision is subject to approval by the company's Supervisory Board in its meeting on March 3, 2011.

On the basis of the number of qualifying shares as of December 31, 2010, the dividend of ┬2.20 per share would correspond to a total dividend payment of approximately ┬2.0 billion. Relative to the 2010 year-end share price of ┬59.70, BASF shareholders would thus receive a dividend yield of 3.7 percent. If the proposal is approved by the Annual Meeting, the dividend will be paid out on May 9, 2011.

BASF aims to increase its dividend each year or at least maintain it at the previous year's level.

MRC

(Asahi Kasei) -- Mitsubishi Chemical Corp. and Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corp. have decided to establish a limited liability partnership (Nishi Nippon Ethylene LLP) for the integrated and unified management of their naphtha cracker operations in Mizushima, Japan, as previously announced on May 31, 2010.

With the start-up of unified management by this newly established LLP in April 2011, Mitsubishi Chemical and Asahi Kasei will implement a coordinated rationalization of operations for increased efficiency based on an optimized configuration, responding swiftly to changes in the operating climate for the Japanese petrochemical industry. The parties will also make every effort to further strengthen the Mizushima industrial zone including through alliances with oil refineries.

MRC

(Dow) -- The Dow Chemical Company announced that it is launching a cash tender offer for approximately $750 million aggregate principal amount of notes listed by Dow and its subsidiaries.

This announcement follows a series of debt reduction activities the Company plans to execute in the first quarter, including the pay-off of $800 million of matured debt and more than $150 million of InterNotes. Taken together, these actions will enable Dow to reduce its overall debt by more than $1.5 billion.

Cash tender offer addresses high-coupon debt, some of which was issued during the global economic crisis of 2009.

MRC

(DSM) -- Royal DSM N.V., the global Life Sciences and Materials Sciences company today introduces a new company brand: Bright Science. Brighter Living. The new brand is symbolic of the transition to the new' DSM.

As the transformation of DSM from a chemical company into a Life Sciences and Materials Sciences company active in health, nutrition and materials is complete, a new corporate brand is a logical step.

The new brand is a reflection of the overall positioning of the company. It stands for the DSM strategy, DSM culture and the way DSM wants its employees to work together.

The new DSM is summed up by the new tagline: Bright Science. Brighter Living.: DSM uses its science and innovation in partnership with its customers to create products and solutions that make a positive difference to people lives.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- As a result of considerable growth of EPS cost and low demand for the products made of EPS, companies reduced their purchases, according to MRC Price Forecasting.

World quotations for April BRENT exceeded USD 110/bbls by the end of 23 February trading. Significant raw materials price hike resulted in growing price for oil refining products. In particular, in the European markets styrene cost grew by USD 110-130/t over the last month.

The current situation enforced polystyrene producers to increase material price to minimize the losses from the margin profit. On the other side, EPS prices grew more than by USD 120/t from the beginning of the year.

EPS purchasers appeared not ready for such increase in price for the material. Besides, low demand for finished goods made of EPS doesn't allow trading companies and converters to transfer the grown expenses for the final customer. In the present situation companies don't hurry to increase the volumes of purchases.

For the Russian companies the situation referring EPS purchases is quite
tricky: companies split into two groups. One group took expective position concerning PS purchases while the other group is trying to contract the volumes of products for the present price expecting its further growing.

MRC