Criticism at the Bayer AG Annual General Meeting
The annual general meeting (AGM) of Bayer AG on April 25, 2025, came under heavy criticism from shareholders. The focus was on the massive decline in Bayer’s stock price and the associated billions in legal risks in the USA, which have shaken the confidence of many investors.
Points of Criticism and Shareholders’ Reactions
- Disappointment over developments under CEO Bill Anderson, who has been in office since June 2023, and who has not been able to stop the decline in stock price despite cost savings and restructuring measures.
- The stock price has more than halved since Anderson took office, leading to significant dissatisfaction among shareholders.
- Demands for clear value enhancement by 2026, as evidenced in the AGM by resolutions for capital increases and other measures to stabilize the company’s value.
Management Under Pressure
- Wealthy shareholders criticized the Board and Supervisory Board regarding the handling of legal risks and lack of improvement in results.
- Bill Anderson emphasized his commitment to profitable growth, yet the results so far have fallen short of expectations.
- The meeting took place in a hybrid format, symbolizing the challenges faced by the company.
Outlook
In light of shareholder dissatisfaction, Bayer plans further cost savings and organizational changes. The question remains whether these will be sufficient to regain trust and stabilize the stock price.
Overall, the AGM showed that Bayer shareholders are making clear demands for value enhancement, especially regarding the multi-billion legal risks and disappointing financial performance.