Focused investment policy, high level of innovation

Solid growth and global presence

Growth, a continued market oriented investment policy and a well-stocked innovation pipeline are the cornerstones of Bayer MaterialScience. Add to this excellent customer proximity with some 30 large production sites and a network of service facilities throughout the world.

Bayer MaterialScience posted sales of EUR 10.8 billion in fiscal 2011, an increase of 7 percent over the previous year. Europe remained the biggest market and generated the highest growth rate. All three operative segments contributed to this development.

Due to significantly higher raw material costs, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) before special items moved back from almost EUR 1.4 billion to just under EUR 1.2 billion. This corresponds to a profit margin of 10.8 percent.

A strong innovator

The company invested some EUR 237 million in research and development in 2011. Roughly 1,000 of the total 14,800 employees worldwide were involved in corresponding activities.

Bayer MaterialScience will continue to invest millions of euros worldwide over the next few years. The focus is on China, where more than EUR 1 billion is to be invested in additional production capacities alone.

Close to the customer

At the same time, Bayer MaterialScience is strengthening the other regions in which the company is present. According to our principle “Think global – Act local,” we are where the markets are and where customer needs require us to be.

This is true for the some 30 major production sites around the globe. The facilities at these sites are world-class: state of the art, highly efficient and safe. This allows Bayer MaterialScience to benefit from short delivery times and great flexibility while offering decisive advantages for its global customers.

In addition, dozens of specialized facilities around the world – yet close to customers – provide custom products and solutions. Finally, there is a tight global network of competence, technology and innovation facilities that is being steadily expanded.