Bayer Norden: Bayer moves to Stockholm

27-Aug-2007
Bayer moves to Stockholm
After more than 50 years in Gothenburg Bayer AB moves its Swedish head office to Solna, Stockholm. Bayer celebrated the milestone in its business development in Sweden today with the inauguration of the brand new office in Frösunda Port.

The office opening was marked by watering a bonzai tree. The tree will decorate the office and symbolizes growth and that Bayer from now on will be rooted in Stockholm. Burkhard Leidemann, Dr Ulrich Köstlin, Mattias Norrmann and Lars-Erik Salminen (from left) in front of the tree.

The new head office in Solna will be the main office for Bayer’s legal entity in Sweden comprising Bayer’s corporate activities as well as Bayer HealthCare and Bayer Schering Pharma – a division that was created after the integration of Bayer and Schering.

In his opening speech Dr Ulrich Köstlin, member of the Board of Management of Bayer Schering Pharma AG and member of the Bayer HealthCare Executive Committee, emphasized that Sweden is an important player in the development of the business in the Nordic region: “Bayer Schering Pharma aims at becoming the leading company within Specialty Pharmaceuticals in Sweden. Currently Bayer Schering Pharma is number 1 within long-term contraceptives and holds a position as number 2 within Women’s Healthcare and Diagnostic Imaging. Within Specialised Therapeutics and Haematology/Cardiology Bayer Schering Pharma holds a position among top ten.

The integration of Bayer and Schering in April created an opportunity for Bayer to decide where to place its healthcare business. According to Mr Burkhard Leidemann, Bayer Norden Senior Representative and Head of Bayer HealthCare Nordic, there is no doubt that it is the right strategic decision to choose Stockholm as the future home base.

“After the acquisition of Schering our company has a much stronger focus on the healthcare market and Stockholm provides the right environment for that. We also took this as an opportunity to place our Swedish head office in the capital. The subgroups of Bayer MaterialScience and Bayer Agency Business remain, however, in Gothenburg and Bayer CropScience remains in Malmö,” said Mr Leidemann

At the opening ceremony Solna’s mayor also took the opportunity to welcome Bayer: “I am pleased that the city of Solna is able to attract major international companies. We consider it of great importance to our development. I am confident that the presence of Bayer AB that is well founded in the entire Nordic region will contribute positively to our city.”

Contact:

Gitte Finnich Pedersen

Head of Corporate Communications, Bayer Norden

Phone: +45 4523 5000

Mail: gitte.finnichpedersen.gf@bayer.dk

Bayer Norden is a regional unit in the international group Bayer AG. Bayer Norden includes Denmark, Sweden and Norway as well as the Baltic Countries and employs approximately 475 persons and had a net sales of EUR 731 mio. (2006).

Bayer is an international company with businesses within healthcare, nutrition and high-tech materials. With more than 5,000 key products Bayer is present almost everywhere in modern society. The group is divided into three independent subgroups: Bayer HealthCare, Bayer CropScience and Bayer MaterialScience with a total turnover of EUR 28.9 bio. The group has 106,000 employees at 350 sites all over the world (2006).

Bayer HealthCare, a subsidiary of Bayer AG, is one of the world's leading, innovative companies in the healthcare and medical products industry and is based in Leverkusen, Germany. The company combines the global activities of the Animal Health, Consumer Care, Diabetes Care and Pharmaceuticals divisions. The pharmaceuticals business operates under the name Bayer Schering Pharma AG. Bayer HealthCare's aim is to discover and manufacture products that will improve human and animal health worldwide.

Bayer Schering Pharma is a worldwide leading specialty pharmaceutical company. Its research and business activities are focused on the following areas: Diagnostic Imaging, Hematology/Cardiology, Oncology, Primary Care, Specialized Therapeutics and Women's Healthcare. With innovative products, Bayer Schering Pharma aims for leading positions in specialized markets worldwide. Using new ideas, Bayer Schering Pharma aims to make a contribution to medical progress and strives to improve the quality of life.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group 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 our annual and interim reports to the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and in our reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (including our Form 20-F). The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.