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Bayer : signs licensing agreement with RAGT and begins broad hybrid wheat commercialization by early 2030s

Bayer : signs licensing agreement with RAGT and begins broad hybrid wheat commercialization by early

Bayer AgJuly 15, 20263
Bayer : signs licensing agreement with RAGT and begins broad hybrid wheat commercialization by early 2030s

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The final prospectus, when published, will be available on the website of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange ( https://www.luxse.com ). The securities referred to herein will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any U.S. State security laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements under the U.S. Securities Act or to, or for the benefit of, U.S. persons. The tender offer referenced herein is not being made, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States by use of the mails or by any means or instrumentality (including, without limitation, e-mail, facsimile transmission, telephone and the internet) of interstate or foreign commerce, or of any facility of a national securities exchange of the United States and the tender offer cannot be accepted by any such use, means, instrumentality or facility or from within the United States. Viewing the materials you seek to access may not be lawful in certain jurisdictions. In other jurisdictions, only certain categories of person may be allowed to view such materials. Any person who wishes to view these materials must first satisfy themselves that they are not subject to any local requirements that prohibit or restrict them from doing so. If you are not permitted to view materials on this webpage or are in any doubt as to whether you are permitted to view these materials, please exit this webpage. Basis of access Access to electronic versions of these materials is being made available on this webpage by Bayer in good faith and for information purposes only. Making press announcements and other documents available in electronic format on this webpage does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities issued by Bayer. Further, it does not constitute a recommendation by Bayer, or any other party to buy or sell securities issued by Bayer. 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Neither this announcement nor anything contained herein shall form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any offer or commitment whatsoever in any jurisdiction. The securities referred to herein will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any U.S. State security laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the benefit of, U.S. persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements under the U.S. Securities Act. Viewing the materials you seek to access may not be lawful in certain jurisdictions. In other jurisdictions, only certain categories of person may be allowed to view such materials. Any person who wishes to view these materials must first satisfy themselves that they are not subject to any local requirements that prohibit or restrict them from doing so. 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This announcement is an advertisement and does not, under any circumstances, constitute a public offering or an invitation to the public in connection with any offer within the meaning of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129. The final prospectus, when published, will be available on the website of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange ( https://www.luxse.com ). The securities referred to herein will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act" ), or any U.S. State security laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements under the U.S. Securities Act or to, or for the benefit of, U.S. persons. Viewing the materials you seek to access may not be lawful in certain jurisdictions. In other jurisdictions, only certain categories of person may be allowed to view such materials. 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Continue Export-CS Export-IR Export-LatestNews Export-TopNews Crop Science Investor News Farming & Innovation Seeds Bayer July 15 , 2026 | 09:29 AM Europe/Amsterdam Bayer signs licensing agreement with RAGT and begins broad hybrid wheat commercialization by early 2030s Summary Licensing agreement enables Bayer to scale franchise in Europe and North America simultaneously / Bayer will combine elite germplasm, cutting-edge precision breeding engine and broad cereals expertise / Sales expected to reach 1 billion euros annually by mid-2040s, highlighting hybrid wheat's long-term blockbuster potential / Hybrid wheat growers set to benefit from productivity increase of 10 percent at launch and additional gains going forward 2026-0119-1 Bayer enters an exclusive licensing agreement with RAGT advancing its plans to sell hybrid wheat seeds by the early 2030s. Download Media Kit Preparing your download... Download An error occurred while preparing your download Monheim, July 15, 2026 - Bayer enters an exclusive licensing agreement with RAGT, a leading company in the European wheat seed market, advancing its plans to sell hybrid wheat seeds in Europe and North America simultaneously by the early 2030s. Hybrid wheat represents a large, untapped opportunity in the world's most widely grown food crops and Bayer targets annual revenues of up to 1 billion euros after just over a decade after launch. The move is part of Bayer's growth ambitions beyond its current blockbuster launches by expanding its core portfolio to hybrid wheat as a key franchise. The new agreement with RAGT materially strengthens Bayer's position in Europe, as it involves the broad licensing of elite wheat germplasm tailored for European environments. This gives Bayer the ideal foundation to further advance and deploy its powerful breeding engine based on its longstanding hybrid wheat R&D efforts, to develop innovations that provide greater productivity and sustainability to farmers at a time when many face challenging weather and growing conditions. "Wheat is one of the most important staple food crops in the world. But wheat production has stagnated and is coming under pressure from prolonged drought and heatwaves, such as the one we just experienced in Europe. At the same time, sturdier hybrid varieties of wheat are still not widely available," said Peter Mueller, Cereals, Cotton, Canola/OSR & Biofuels Lead at Bayer's Crop Science division. "Our deal with RAGT is about to change that. Combining RAGT's top performing germplasm and know-how with our breeding capabilities will significantly boost and expand our pipeline of hybrid wheat varieties, allowing us to compete in a rapidly evolving market. With the North American program in full gear, we will deliver higher value to growers on both sides of the Atlantic." Sébastien Chatre, Head of R&D at RAGT added, "We're very excited about the potential of this broad licensing agreement with Bayer, as it represents a significant step in RAGT's commitment to innovation in wheat breeding. By sharing our expertise, we can accelerate the development of hybrid wheat solutions that will benefit the entire market and meet the evolving needs of farmers and the seed industry." For the European market, Bayer will focus its efforts on winter wheat. In North America, the company will introduce both spring and winter wheat, building on its successful WestBred wheat franchise. In both Europe and the U.S., the genetic material Bayer uses for breeding has the potential to fit in more than 80 percent of the wheat hectares, spanning across countries in Europe and across classes in the U.S. Bayer's leading position in the crop protection space for wheat and the respective customer relations, combined with its access to elite germplasm for Europe and North America, precision breeding capabilities, seed production know-how, as well as digital and agronomic expertise will help the company build a competitive, holistic wheat system for farmers. Hybrid wheat to deliver higher yields Hybrid wheat seeds can increase wheat production without additional land or resource use, adding 10 percent compared to conventional open-pollinated wheat, right from the early stages of introduction of the new technology, with continuous additional yield gains going forward. Additional benefits for farmers include more reliability and robustness because key attributes of hybridization include an enhanced root system and faster growth to establish a strong crop against external factors, leading to potential better disease, weed and pest tolerance, and greater resilience to drought and heat. With hybridization of wheat still largely untapped, investing in hybrid wheat presents a unique opportunity for growth and enhanced food security. As the world's number one food crop, wheat covers over 220 million hectares globally and feeds around 30 percent of the population, making it an essential source of the world's calories and a staple crop for fighting hunger. With climates in wheat-growing regions becoming hotter and drier, demand is continuing to increase further for resilient hybrid seeds that offer higher and more stable yields. About Bayer Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. In line with its mission, "Health for all, Hunger for none," the company's products and services are designed to help people and the planet thrive by supporting efforts to master the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. Bayer is committed to driving sustainable development and generating a positive impact with its businesses. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. The Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2025, the Group employed around 88,000 people and had sales of 45.6 billion euros. R&D expenses amounted to 5.8 billion euros. For more information, go to www.bayer.com. Forward-Looking Statements This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer 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. Bayer AG is a holding company with operating subsidiaries worldwide. References to "Bayer" or "the company" herein may refer to one or more subsidiaries as context requires. Contacts Alexander Gutmann Media Relations [email protected] +49 174 7306349 Contact for investor inquiries: Bayer Investor Relations Team [email protected] +49 214 30-72704 Downloads 2026-0119e.pdf 2026-0119e.rtf Newsroom Sign up for our Newsletter We will keep you informed about the latest news. Sign up

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