Bayer AG : “Sustainability Yearbook 2012” listing globally top performers presented in Davos:

Friday - January 27, 2012

"Sustainability Yearbook 2012" listing globally top performers presented in Davos:

Bayer rated the most sustainable German company in its sector

One of just three chemical companies worldwide to receive Gold Class seal of quality from rating agency SAM

Leverkusen, January 27, 2012 - Bayer's commitment to sustainability has gained special recognition: At the World Economic Forum in Davos, the rating agency SAM and the auditors KPMG presented their Sustainability Yearbook 2012, which named Bayer as the best German chemical company and one of only three enterprises in the sector worldwide to be awarded Gold Class, the highest seal of quality.

"We see the award of the Gold Class to be another confirmation of our sustainability strategy," said Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Plischke, member of the Bayer Board of Management responsible for Innovation, Technology and Environment. "The principles of sustainability are an integral component of our business activities. By bringing economic growth into harmony with social interests and ecological needs we are safeguarding Bayer's long-term success."

SAM is responsible for evaluating the sustainability performance of more than 2,000 of the world's largest listed companies, this being used as the basis for the composition of the Dow Jones Sustainability indices. Bayer is included in both indices relevant for the company, the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index and the Dow Jones Sustainability Europe Index. These indices help investors who value sustainable business practices with their investment decisions.

The companies' sustainability performance is assessed according to economic, ecological and social criteria. The economic criteria include corporate governance and innovation management. Among the relevant ecological criteria are climate strategy and reporting. And in the social sphere the focus is, for example, on personnel development and supplier management.

Further information on the sustainability rankings can be found on the Internet at:

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Forward-Looking Statements
This release 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 . The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.