ARCHIVE 2006

Invision portfolio company Datamars signs U.S. Distribution Agreement for microchips and scanners for companion animals and horses

SHAWNEE, Kan., (April 11, 2006) — Bayer HealthCare, Animal Health Division, announced today that it has reached agreement for the U.S. distribution rights for Switzerland-based Datamars’ ISO-approved microchips and scanners for companion animals and horses. Datamars is a worldwide leader in RFID technology for animal and industrial applications.

“Bayer Animal Health is committed to partnering with veterinarians as they care for animals. One of our company’s overarching goals is to help ensure the health and well being of the animals served by our products, and, with this acquisition we add a powerful tool for reuniting pets and families,” said Joerg Ohle, president and general manager of Bayer HealthCare, Animal Health Division, North America. “This expansion of our product offerings is a significant milestone for our division, our veterinarian customers, and the animals under their care.”

Of the estimated 8 million to 10 million pets that become lost each year in the U.S., only a small fraction are reunited with their owners. The use of microchip technology in pets was to improve reunion rates. However, according to animal hospitals and pet advocacy groups, even lost pets with microchips are sometimes euthanized before they can be reunited with their owners because the technology used in today’s microchips is not universally compatible with available readers.
The federal government and a host of animal welfare agencies are working to address this issue. Under federal legislation passed in 2005, the United States Department of Agriculture is developing regulations that allow for a universal standard that best serves the interests of pet owners. The Coalition for Reuniting Pets and Families, which includes The Humane Society of the United States, American Animal Hospital Association , The American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, AKC Companion Animal Recovery, American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), and numerous other agencies has called for the distribution of scanners capable of reading all microchips.

Industry conversion to the ISO standard is being made easier as organizations like Bayer Animal Health and The Crystal Import Corp. which together are donating thousands of ISO scanners to non-profit shelters across the country. These scanners are capable of reading or detecting both 134.2 kHz and 125 kHz microchips.

Jeff Gaidos, vice president of marketing, Bayer HealthCare, Animal Health Division, said widespread use of these microchips and scanners will revolutionize pet identification in the U.S.

“This ISO-approved chip is the present and future of microchipping,” Gaidos said. “Our new chips and scanners address the current shortfalls in the chipping system, and offer veterinarians and animal owners a more reliable, cost-effective option. We are currently building our inventory to meet the expected market demand and anticipate launching the new microchip in the fall.”

About Bayer Animal Health

Bayer HealthCare’s Animal Health Division is the maker of Advantage® flea control for dogs and cats and K9 AdvantixTM, a triple protection flea, tick, and mosquito control product for dogs. K9 Advantix and Advantage are trademarks of Bayer. The division is a worldwide leader in parasite control and prescription pharmaceuticals for dogs, cats, horses, and cattle. North American operations for the Animal Health Division are headquartered in Shawnee, Kan. Bayer Animal Health is a division of Bayer HealthCare LLC, one of the world’s leading health care companies.

About Bayer HealthCare LLC

Bayer HealthCare LLC (www.bayerhealthcare.com) is part of the worldwide operations of Bayer HealthCare AG, a subgroup of Bayer AG, with sales of approximately €X billion in 2006. Bayer HealthCare is one of the world's leading, innovative companies in the health care and medical products industry.

The company combines the global activities of the divisions Animal Health, Biological Products, Consumer Care, Diagnostics Professional Testing Systems and Diagnostics Self Testing Systems and Pharmaceuticals. 34,600 people are employed by Bayer HealthCare worldwide.

About The Crystal Import Corp.

The Crystal Import Corp. is the Alabama-based, U.S. distributor for Datamars SA, a global market-leader in developing RFID.

About Datamars SA

Founded in 1988, Datamars SA is headquartered in Bedano, Switzerland (near Lugano). Datamars is a global market-leader in the development of RFID technology. Datamars is a worldwide leader in animal identification and industrial applications.

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 the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (including our Form 20-F). The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.