RNS Number:3741K
Bayer AG
25 April 2003



Bayer: First-quarter sales improve by more than 4 percent -
Operating result also up year on year

Double-digit growth in operating result, predicted for 2003 /
Lipobay/Baycol: more settlement agreements concluded in U.S.

Leverkusen - According to preliminary figures, the Bayer Group recorded sales of
EUR. 7.3 billion from continuing operations in the first quarter of 2003. As
the company announced prior to the Annual Stockholders' Meeting on Friday in
Cologne, this represents a year-on-year increase of more than 4 percent after
translation and an improvement of over 15 percent in local currencies.
Provisional first-quarter data so far available indicate that the operating
result also exceeded the figure for the same period of 2002, which was EUR 840
million. The Bayer Group expects to increase its operating result from
continuing operations by a double-digit percentage in 2003, provided current
economic conditions do not seriously worsen.

At the Annual Stockholders' Meeting, Bayer also presented updated figures
concerning lawsuits pending in the United States in connection with the drug
product Lipobay/Baycol, which was voluntarily withdrawn from the market in the
summer of 2001.  Without concession of liability, Bayer so far has entered
settlement agreements with 740 individuals, which will result in total payments
of approximately 219 million U.S. dollars. Some 8,600 suits have now been filed
in the United States.

Note to editors:  The interim report for the first quarter of 2003 will be
published on May 7, 2003 in the Stockholders' Newsletter.


Bayer AG, Investor Relations contacts:

Dr. Alexander Rosar (+49-214-30-81013)
Dr. Juergen Beunink (+49-214-30-65742)
Peter Dahlhoff (+49-214-30-33022)
Judith Nestmann (+49-214-30-66836)

Forward-looking statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements based on current
assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group 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 our public reports filed with the Frankfurt Stock
Exchange and with the U.S.Securities and Exchange Commission (including our Form
20-F).  The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-
looking statement or to conform them to future events or developments.


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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