Future Planning in Focus: Bayer CEO Anderson Presents Plans Under Critical Eyes

On the upcoming Tuesday, Bill Anderson, who has been at the helm of Bayer since June, steps into the spotlight to discuss his vision for the corporation. A potential split of the company, which might have been considered, appears to be receding into the background, while the presentation of the financial results and forecasts for 2024 sets the stage for more far-reaching topics. Bayer continues to face legal disputes in the United States, which have arisen due to the contentious pesticide glyphosate and the long-banned environmental toxin PCB – legacy issues from the acquired company Monsanto. Although this acquisition was met with resistance from investors, Anderson has already taken measures to relieve the corporation financially, including cutting the dividend and streamlining the administration. The glyphosate litigation, which has already cost billions, and a sluggish agricultural business weigh on Bayer, as do failures in drug development. For this reason, major acquisitions to expand the pharmaceutical division are not up for discussion. Amidst this turbulence, Bayer's share value has hit a historic low, representing a reduction to just about 28 billion euros on the stock market. In contrast, the massive purchase price of the Monsanto acquisition amounted to 60 billion US dollars. Anderson pursues a plan based on "Dynamic Shared Ownership," which aims to revolutionize the company structure after the model of flexible small businesses. Therefore, as Anderson's strategies are under scrutiny, investors are also focusing on other developments within the company. The announcement that investor Jeffrey Ubben is set to join the supervisory board and the impending handover in the Consumer Health division, from Heiko Schipper to Julio Triana, indicates possible strategic realignment. While Schipper's departure is not directly associated with restructuring efforts according to "Handelsblatt," the focus on Tuesday will be on Anderson, who must meet the high expectations of investors. At the same time, experts agree that major structural upheavals are unlikely for now, and instead, discussions about the company structure will forefront concrete results and efficient debt reduction.