Bayer HealthCare Animal Health Marks its 50th Anniversary in Shawnee, Kansas

SHAWNEE, Kan., June 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Bayer HealthCare Animal Health celebrated both the 50^th anniversary of its Shawnee, Kansas animal health campus and Bayer's 150^th anniversary globally, by hosting a celebration luncheon for more than 450 employees, community and state political leaders and local industry partners. The event featured an internationally-diverse menu, which was also served to more than 110,000 Bayer employees worldwide.

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"I could think of no better way to mark Bayer's 150^th anniversary, and our own 50 years of animal health history, than by sharing a globally-inspired meal with my colleagues," said Ian Spinks, president and general manager, Bayer HealthCare LLC, Animal Health Division, North America. "It reminds us that we are not only part of something very special here in Shawnee, but also part of a global company dedicated to science for a better life."

To mark the 150^th anniversary of Bayer worldwide, the Bayer Cares Foundation awarded nearly $785,000 in donations to 150 volunteer projects around the world. Today in Shawnee, Trish Wilbur, senior staff associate for the food animal and equine business unit, was recognized as one of nine U.S. Bayer employees and retirees whose volunteer projects received a grant to help support their initiatives. Wilbur's grant of more than $6,500 will support Open Door Haiti's "Build a Bed" project. In July, she will travel to Bois De Lance, Haiti to build beds for 32 families.  

Bayer HealthCare Animal Health employees were joined by community and state government officials, including Dale Rodman, Kansas Secretary of Agriculture.

"Healthy animals are the foundation of a safe, wholesome food supply," said Rodman. "While Bayer has been a critical partner in Kansas agriculture for the past 50 years, your company's commitment to excellence and leadership in animal health has benefited the global animal agriculture sector for 150 years. It was an honor to participate in the celebration today. On behalf of Kansas agriculture, we look forward to continuing to work with our partners at Bayer for another 150 years."

Additionally, local industry partners, such as the American Royal and the Kansas City Area Development Council (KCADC), also joined Bayer employees. Kim Young, KCADC's vice president of Bioscience Development, was one of several guest speakers who shared their experience with Bayer over the years as part of the milestone celebration.

"Partnering with Bayer to create the Animal Health Corridor in 2007 drove innovation and excellence within the regional community, keeping Kansas City at the center of the animal health industry," Young said.    

Bayer's yearlong anniversary celebration includes numerous global and U.S. events focused on the company's employees, customers, partners and the scientific community. These events include: a major travelling exhibition themed to healthcare, agriculture and high-performance materials; and the Bayer Anniversary Airship, which will make stops on five continents. For more information, visit www.150.bayer.com.

About Bayer HealthCare
The Bayer Group is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, agriculture and high-tech materials. Bayer HealthCare, a subgroup of Bayer AG with annual sales of €18.6 million (2012), is one of the world's leading, innovative companies in the healthcare and medical products industry and is based in Leverkusen, Germany. The company combines the global activities of the Animal Health, Consumer Care, Medical Care and Pharmaceuticals divisions. Bayer HealthCare's aim is to discover, develop, manufacture and market products that will improve human and animal health worldwide. Bayer HealthCare has a global workforce of 55,300 employees (Dec 31, 2012) and is represented in more than 100 countries. More information at www.healthcare.bayer.com.

About Bayer Corporation
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, agriculture and high-tech materials. As an inventor company, it sets trends in research-intensive areas. Bayer's products and services are designed to benefit people and improve the 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 acts as a socially and ethically responsible corporate citizen. In fiscal 2012, the Group employed 110,500 people and had sales of €39.8 billion. In North America, Bayer had 2012 net sales of €9,576 million ($12,257 million) and employed 15,300 at year-end. For more information, go to www.bayerus.com.

Contact:
Staci Gouveia, Tel. 913.268.2577
Email: [email protected]

Lauren Dorsch, Tel. 913.268.2747
Email: [email protected]

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

SOURCE Bayer HealthCare Animal Health