Leverkusen, November 6, 2013 – Bayer was awarded first place in the Good Company Ranking 2013. Among the 70 largest European companies Bayer is the best with respect to social responsibility – this was the conclusion of what was, according to the organizer of the study Kirchhoff Consult AG, the “most detailed comparison” of large European companies in the areas of personnel management, social commitment, environmental management and financial performance and transparency.

“We are highly delighted by this commendation,” says Prof. Wolfgang Plischke, the member of Bayer AG’s Board of Management responsible for Technology, Innovation and Sustainability. “Our corporate philosophy has proven justified: our aim is to balance commercial success with the needs of our employees and society and with environmental protection.”

Kirchhoff Consult AG commissioned independent scientists to perform the corporate assessment. They included Prof. Edeltraut Günther (Technical University of Dresden), Prof. Rüdiger Hahn (University of Kassel), Prof. Christian Scholz (University of Saarland) and Prof. Henning Zülch (Leipzig Commercial College – HHL). According to the ranking initiator Klaus Rainer Kirchhoff, social responsibility is an “important strategic success factor.”

The Good Company Ranking was published for the fourth time following its previous issues in 2005, 2007 and 2009. Four years ago Bayer came seventh.

Bayer: Science For A Better Life

Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, agriculture and high-tech materials. As an innovation company, it sets trends in research-intensive areas. Bayer’s products and services are designed to benefit people and improve their quality of life. At the same time, the Group aims to create value through innovation, growth and high earning power. Bayer is committed to the principles of sustainable development and to its social and ethical responsibilities as a corporate citizen. In fiscal 2012, the Group employed 110,000 people and had sales of €39.7 billion. Capital expenditures amounted to €1.9 billion, R&D expenses to €3.0 billion.