The acquisition of AgraQuest significantly boosts Bayer CropScience´s ability to make available to customers worldwide a comprehensive range of integrated and sustainable crop solutions based on seeds, traits and combined chemical and biological crop protection including seed treatment. Biological pest management solutions, often also referred to as Green Products, will play a significant role in propelling farming`s future. Bayer CropScience plans to achieve EUR 3 billion in its fruits and vegetables business by 2020 – and AgraQuest will add further to this goal.

“This acquisition strengthens our strategically important fruits and vegetables business,” Sandra Peterson, CEO of Bayer CropScience said. “The global market for Green Products is expected to increase significantly over the years to come and we see additional growth opportunities in all agricultural crops as well as for our Environmental Science business and for Bayer´s Animal Health division.”

“We are pleased to become part of Bayer CropScience and will continue to design new green technologies, now under the Bayer company umbrella,” said Marcus Meadows-Smith, CEO of AgraQuest. “The combined talents and capabilities of Bayer CropScience and AgraQuest will serve to accelerate the market introduction of highly innovative customized solutions worldwide.”

In July 2012, Bayer CropScience announced its plans to acquire AgraQuest, headquartered in Davis, California, USA for a purchase price of US$ 425 Million (about EUR 340 million) plus milestone payments.

AgraQuest offers customers well-established Green Products available today in more than 30 countries. Additionally, it has a promising pipeline of new biological control agents. Bayer CropScience plans to further invest in the R&D site in Davis, which is intended to become a world class center of expertise and excellence in Green Products. Furthermore, Bayer CropScience plans to expand existing manufacturing operations of Green Products at Tlaxcala site in Mexico.

About Bayer CropScience
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, seeds and crop protection as well as high-tech materials. Bayer CropScience, a subgroup of Bayer AG with annual sales of EUR 7.255 billion (2011), is one of the world’s leading innovative crop science companies in the areas of seeds, crop protection and non-agricultural pest control. The company offers an outstanding range of products including high value seeds, innovative crop protection solutions based on chemical and biological modes of action as well as an extensive service backup for modern, sustainable agriculture. In the area of non-agricultural applications, Bayer CropScience has a broad portfolio of products and services to control pests from home and garden to forestry applications. The company has a global workforce of 21,000 and is represented in more than 120 countries. This and further news is available at: www.press.bayercropscience.com.

Contact:
Bayer CropScience AG
Utz Klages, Tel. +49 2173 38-3125
E-Mail: utz.klages@bayer.com

Bayer CropScience LP
Beth Roden, Tel. +1 877-879-6162
E-Mail: beth.roden@bayer.com

Find more information at www.bayercropscience.com.

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 www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

Bayer CropScience acquires US-based biological company
AgraQuest for close to US$ 500 million

· Unique technology platform and promising biological pipeline
· Wide range of established green product brands
· Purchase includes R&D and manufacturing facilities

Monheim, July 3, 2012 – Bayer CropScience announced today that it has signed an agreement to purchase AgraQuest, Inc. for a purchase price of US$ 425 million (approximately EUR 340 million) plus milestone payments. AgraQuest, headquartered in Davis, California, USA, is a global supplier of innovative biological pest management solutions based on natural microorganisms. This acquisition will enable Bayer CropScience to build a leading technology platform for green products and to strengthen its strategically important fruits and vegetables business, while also opening new opportunities in other crops and markets. Green products control a broad spectrum of pests and diseases and offer farmers integrated pest management programs to minimize development of resistance and maximize crop yields. The acquisition is subject to approval by the relevant authorities.

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