Bayer Aktiengesellschaft - 2002 dated Specimen Stock Certificate

Specimen Stock printed by American Bank Note Company. Bayer AG is a prominent German multinational corporation specializing in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, recognized as one of the largest entities in the pharmaceutical and biomedical sectors globally. The company is headquartered in Leverkusen and operates across various domains, including pharmaceuticals, consumer healthcare, agricultural chemicals, seeds, and biotechnology products. Bayer is also a constituent of the EURO STOXX 50 stock market index. Established in 1863 in Barmen, the company originated as a partnership between dye salesman Friedrich Bayer and dyer Friedrich Weskott. Initially focused on producing dyestuffs, Bayer expanded its operations due to the versatility of aniline chemistry. In 1899, the company introduced acetylsalicylic acid, marketed under the trademark Aspirin. By 1904, Bayer secured a trademark for the "Bayer Cross" logo, which became synonymous with its aspirin tablets, establishing a lasting brand identity. Other notable products developed by Bayer include heroin, phenobarbital, polyurethanes, and polycarbonates.

In 1925, Bayer merged with five other German firms to create IG Farben, which became the largest chemical and pharmaceutical company in the world. However, following World War II, the Allied Control Council confiscated IG Farben's assets due to its involvement in the Nazi regime, including the use of forced labor and unethical medical experiments, as well as the production of Zyklon B, a chemical used in gas chambers. In 1951, IG Farben was dismantled, leading to the reestablishment of Bayer as Farbenfabriken Bayer AG. The company significantly contributed to the economic recovery known as the Wirtschaftswunder in post-war West Germany, swiftly reclaiming its status as one of the leading chemical and pharmaceutical corporations worldwide.