Bayer to divest Diabetes Care business

Bayer AG has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Diabetes Care business to Panasonic Healthcare Holdings Co., Ltd., a company which is backed by funds sponsored by leading global investment firm KKR and the Panasonic Corporation. The total consideration for the transaction is EUR 1,022 million (JPY 138 billion). The sale will include the leading Contour™ portfolio of blood glucose monitoring meters and strips, as well as other products such as Breeze™2, Elite™ and Microlet™ lancing devices. Closing of the transaction is subject to customary conditions, including relevant antitrust clearance, and is expected to occur in the first quarter of 2016.

Bayer: Science For A Better Life
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, agriculture and high-tech polymer 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 2014, the Group employed 118,900 people and had sales of EUR 42.2 billion. Capital expenditures amounted to EUR 2.5 billion, R&D expenses to EUR 3.6 billion.

About Bayer Diabetes Care
Headquarters: Basel, Switzerland and Whippany, NJ (USA)
Business overview: Develops, manufactures and sells blood-glucose monitoring systems
Sales (FY 2014): EUR 909 million
Sales region: 125 countries
Employees (April 2015): Approximately 1,500

About Panasonic Healthcare Holdings Co., Ltd.
Established in 2014, Panasonic Healthcare Holdings Co., Ltd. (shareholder structure: KKR 80%; Panasonic Corporation 20%) is involved in developing, manufacturing, selling and servicing medical equipment through its subsidiary Panasonic Healthcare Co., Ltd. It seeks to strengthen its core businesses, In Vitro Diagnostics including self‐monitoring of blood glucose systems, its Medicom businesses involved in medical IT businesses and its life sciences based Biomedical business and to continue to pursue an important role in the provision of optimal healthcare for all