Profile and Organization
Names | Figures | Facts
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, nutrition and high-tech materials. Our products and services are designed to benefit people and improve their quality of life. At the same time we want to create value through innovation, growth and high earning power.
Organization
Bayer AG defines common values, goals and strategies for the entire Group. The three subgroups and three service companies operate independently, led by the management holding company. The Corporate Center supports the Group Management Board in its task of strategic leadership.

Business operations are the responsibility of the subgroups:
Central service functions are combined into three service companies:
- Bayer HealthCare is among the world’s foremost innovators in the field of pharmaceutical and medical products. This subgroup’s mission is to research, develop, manufacture and market innovative products that improve the health of people and animals throughout the world.
The subgroup has four operating divisions: Animal Health (veterinary medicines and grooming products); Bayer Schering Pharma (prescription medicines); Consumer Care (over-the-counter medicines and dietary supplements); Medical Care* (blood glucose monitoring devices and contrast agent injection systems). - Bayer CropScience, with its highly effective products, pioneering innovations and keen customer focus, holds global leadership positions in crop protection and non-agricultural pest control. The company also has major activities in seeds and crop plants with genetically optimized properties.
It is structured into six Business Operations units: four regional Crop Protection units plus the Environmental Science and BioScience units. - Bayer MaterialScience is a renowned supplier of high-performance materials such as polycarbonates and polyurethanes, and innovative system solutions for a wide range of everyday uses. Products holding leading positions on the world market account for a large proportion of the company’s sales.
The subgroup’s portfolio is divided into three business units Polyurethanes, Polycarbonates, Coatings, Adhesives, Specialties, and the Industrial Operations area.
Central service functions are combined into three service companies:
- Bayer Business Services is the Bayer Group’s international competence center for it-based services. Its product offering focuses on integrated services in the core areas of it infrastructure and applications, procurement and logistics, human resources and executive personnel services, and finance and accounting.
- Bayer Technology Services is the global technological backbone for the Bayer Group and a major innovation driver. Its services comprise the development, planning, construction and optimization of processes and plant. This service company offers fully integrated solutions right through the life cycle of production facilities.
- Currenta offers services for the chemical industry including utility supply, waste management, infrastructure, safety, security, analytics and vocational training. This service company – a joint venture between Bayer and lanxess – operates the chempark sites in Leverkusen, Dormagen and Krefeld-Uerdingen, Germany.
Corporate Governance
Dual governance system with the following governance bodies:
| Board of Management: | four members, Chairman: Werner Wenning |
| Supervisory Board: | 20 members, Chairman: Dr. Manfred Schneider |
Products
The Bayer Group markets some 5,000 products. Best-sellers include:
- in the health care field: Yasmin®/YAZ®/Yasminelle®, Betaferon®/Betaseron®, Kogenate®, Adalat®, Avalox®/Avelox®
- in the nutrition field: Confidor®/Gaucho®/Admire®/Merit®, Flint®/Stratego®/Sphere®
- in the field of high-tech materials: Makrolon®, Baydur®, Bayflex® Footwear, Desmodur®/Desmophen®
Locations
Bayer is represented around the world by 316 companies*. Global headquarters are in Leverkusen, Germany.
* fully consolidated subsidiaries (as of Dec. 31, 2008)
Workforce
On December 31, 2008, the Bayer Group had 108,600 employees worldwide (2007: 106,200). North America accounted for 17,000 of these employees, while 20,800 were based in Asia-Pacific, 15,300 in Latin America/Africa/Middle East and 55,500 in Europe. In Germany we had 37,400 employees, who made up 34.4 percent of the Group workforce.
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108,600 employees worldwide (as of December 31, 2008), including: 55,500 in Europe 17,000 in North America 20,800 in Asia-Pacific 15,300 in Latin America/Africa/Middle East |
Bayer stock
- included in nearly all the major share indices
- traded on all German stock exchanges
- dividend per share: EUR 1.40
Bayer Group Key Data
| Bayer Group | 2007 |
2008 |
Change |
| Net sales | 32,385 |
32,918 |
+1.6 |
| EBITDA1 | 5,866 |
6,266 |
+6.8 |
| EBITDA before special items | 6,777 |
6,931 |
+2.3 |
| EBIT2 | 3,154 |
3,544 |
+12.4 |
| EBIT before special items | 4,287 |
4,342 |
+1.3 |
| Income before income taxes | 2,234 |
2,356 |
+5.5 |
| Net income | 4,711 |
1,719 |
-63.5 |
| Earnings per share (in €)3 | 5.84 |
2.22 |
-62.0 |
| Gross cash flow4 | 4,784 |
5,295 |
+10.7 |
| Net cash flow5 | 4,281 |
3,608 |
-15.7 |
| Capital expenditures | 1,891 |
1,982 |
+4.8 |
| Research and development expenses | 2,578 |
2,653 |
+2.9 |
| Dividend per Bayer AG share (€) | 1.35 |
1.40 |
+3.7 |
2007 figures restated
1-5 for definition see footnotes to Bayer Group Key Data table
1-5 for definition see footnotes to Bayer Group Key Data table
Sales by segment in percent, 2008 (2007 in parentheses)
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Reconciliation 4.2% (4.1%) HealthCare 46.8% (45.7%)![]() Pharmaceuticals 32.5% (31.7%) Consumer Health 14.3% (14.0%) CropScience 19.4% (18.0%) Crop Protection 16.2% (14.8%) Environmental Science/BioScience 3.2% (3.2%) MaterialScience 29.6% (32.2%) Systems 21.7% (22.8%) Materials 7.9% (9.4%) |




55,500 in Europe
17,000 in North America
20,800 in Asia-Pacific
15,300 in Latin America/Africa/Middle East
Reconciliation 4.2% (4.1%)
HealthCare 46.8% (45.7%)
CropScience 19.4% (18.0%)
MaterialScience 29.6% (32.2%)
Current financial reports
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