Bayer AG is the management holding company for the Bayer Group. The Company’s business operations are organized into three subgroups: HealthCare, CropScience and MaterialScience, supported by the service companies Bayer Business Services, Bayer Technology Services and Currenta. Bayer HealthCare is involved in the research, development and manufacture of health products for people and animals. Bayer CropScience is engaged in the crop protection and non-agricultural pest control. Bayer MaterialScience supplies materials, such as polycarbonates and polyurethanes, and system solutions such as coatings, for a range of everyday uses. In October 2008, Bayer AG launched its new anticoagulant pill Xarelto in Britain and Germany, which has been granted approval in the European Union. The Company has subsidiaries operating in Europe, Asia-Pacific, North America, Latin America, Africa and Middle East. Bayer Schering Pharma AG became a wholly owned subsidiary of Bayer AG on September 25, 2008.