Bayer Aktiengesellschaft / Key word(s): Strategic Company Decision 18.09.2014 13:17 Dissemination of an Ad hoc announcement according to § 15 WpHG, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Leverkusen, September 18, 2014 Bayer intends in the future to focus entirely on the Life Science businesses - HealthCare and CropScience - and float MaterialScience on the stock market as a separate company. In this way Bayer is positioning itself as a world-leading company in the field of human, animal and plant health. Employment levels are expected to remain stable over the next few years, both globally and in Germany. The Supervisory Board unanimously approved the Board of Management's plans today, Thursday. In recent years, Bayer's center of gravity has greatly shifted toward its Life Science activities with the successful launch of novel pharmaceutical products, the pending acquisition of the over-the-counter products business of Merck & Co., Inc., United States, and the very successful development of the CropScience business. The aim is to continue the positive development of these activities in the future through further investment in growth. Following its regular evaluation of the business portfolio, the Board of Management has therefore decided to focus the company on these areas. The Life Sciences currently already account for about 70 percent of Bayer's sales and 88 percent of EBITDA before special items. The companies of the future Bayer Group had pro forma sales of approx. EUR 29 billion in 2013. They will employ nearly 99,000 people, including about 29,500 in Germany. Corporate headquarters will remain in Leverkusen. It is planned to float the MaterialScience business on the stock market as a separate company within the next 12 to 18 months. Following the intended flotation, MaterialScience will be Europe's fourth-largest chemical company; it had global sales in 2013 of more than EUR 11 billion (pro forma figure). The new company is planned to have a global workforce of roughly 16,800, including about 6,500 in Germany. It will have a new name and a separate identity and be headquartered in Leverkusen. Contact: Mr. Peter Dahlhoff, Bayer AG, Investor Relations, Phone: +49-214-30-33022, e-mail: [email protected], Fax: 0214-30-96-33022 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Information and Explaination of the Issuer to this News: Forward-Looking Statements This Ad-hoc Statement may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer's public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments. 18.09.2014 The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Company: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft Kaiser-Wilhelm-Allee 1 51373 Leverkusen Germany Phone: +49 (0)214 30-81 013 Fax: +49 (0)21430-9681013 E-mail: Internet: www.bayer.com ISIN: DE000BAY0017 WKN: BAY001 Indices: DAX, EURO STOXX 50, Stoxx 50 Listed: Regulierter Markt in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt (Prime Standard), Hamburg, Hannover, München, Stuttgart; Terminbörse EUREX; Madrid End of Announcement DGAP News-Service ---------------------------------------------------------------------------