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Activist investor Inclusive Capital looks to sell stake in Bayer, Bloomberg News reports

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on March 23, 2026

2 min read

· Last updated: April 1, 2026

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Activist investor Inclusive Capital looks to sell stake in Bayer, Bloomberg News reports
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March 23 (Reuters) - Inclusive Capital Partners is looking to sell a stake in German agriculture and health firm Bayer AG, Bloomberg News reported on Monday. The investor is offering roughly 8.5

Inclusive Capital Partners to Sell Major Stake in Bayer AG: Bloomberg

Inclusive Capital's Stake Sale and Bayer AG Developments

March 23 (Reuters) - Inclusive Capital Partners is looking to sell a stake in German agriculture and health firm Bayer AG, Bloomberg News reported on Monday.

Details of the Share Sale

The investor is offering roughly 8.5 million shares in a stock placing arranged by JPMorgan Chase, the report said, citing terms seen by Bloomberg. The stake would be worth about 327 million euros ($380.17 million) based on the stock's closing price on Monday.

Market Response and Company Comments

Inclusive Capital could not be immediately reached, while Bayer did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Background: Inclusive Capital's Involvement with Bayer

Inclusive Capital, led by activist Jeff Ubben, took a stake in Bayer in early 2023 and helped drive the ouster of then CEO Werner Baumann. Ubben, one of Wall Street's most prominent activist investors had pushed for several other changes at the company. He had been among a number of investors who had urged Bayer to consider a break-up. 

Leadership Changes at Bayer

CEO Bill Anderson, who took the helm at Bayer in June 2023, has been overhauling the company's management structure but suspended a strategic review that could have led to a breakup of the diversified group. 

Financial Challenges Facing Bayer

Bayer earlier this month issued a 2026 earnings target range below market expectations, as the drugmaker struggles with costly litigation and massive financial debt. 

Additional Information

($1 = 0.8601 euros)

(Reporting by Akanksha Khushi in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar)

Key Takeaways

  • The approximately 8.5 million shares represent roughly 0.8% of Bayer, mirroring the 0.83% stake first taken in early 2023 by Inclusive Capital (news.bloomberglaw.com).
  • The sale comes amid ongoing pressure on Bayer—from litigation, debt, and investor demands—including a suspended breakup review under CEO Bill Anderson who has prioritized overhauling management instead (bloomberg.com).
  • This move follows Inclusive Capital’s activist campaign, which had previously pushed for structural changes, including breaking up the conglomerate, and influenced the ouster of then‑CEO Werner Baumann (cnbc.com)

References

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is looking to sell a stake in Bayer AG?
Inclusive Capital Partners, an activist investment firm led by Jeff Ubben, is looking to sell a stake in Bayer AG.
How many Bayer shares is Inclusive Capital offering?
Inclusive Capital is offering roughly 8.5 million shares in Bayer AG.
What is the estimated value of the Bayer stake being sold?
The stake is valued at approximately 327 million euros based on the stock's recent closing price.
Who has arranged the stock placing for the Bayer shares?
JPMorgan Chase has arranged the stock placing for the sale of Bayer shares.
What recent actions has Inclusive Capital taken at Bayer?
Inclusive Capital took a stake in 2023 and helped drive the ouster of then-CEO Werner Baumann while pushing for company changes.

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