Lanxess to Move Group Headquarters

Specialty chemicals company Lanxess AG plans to move its headquarters from Leverkusen to Cologne, Germany, with the relocation process to be completed by 2011. Lanxess reports it will now begin discussions with the city of Cologne to identify possible sites.

“Lanxess is today a well-positioned and globally successful enterprise,” explained Axel C. Heitmann, chairman of the Lanxess Board of Management. “If we are to continue efficiently steering and supporting our growth course in the future, we need a Group headquarters building that provides us with optimal conditions.

“In recent years, Cologne has seen impressive development as a centre of commerce,” Heitmann added, “The city has an infrastructure which is unique in North Rhine-Westphalia and optimal transport connections. It was this aspect in particular which guided our decision. We are also pleased to keep our headquarters in the region in which we are, after all, firmly rooted.” About half of the 15,000 Lanxess employees worldwide are based in this region.

Key management functions at Lanxess are currently located in a number of buildings throughout the Leverkusen Chempark, and the company reports that capacity for suitable office space and parking is exhausted. These management functions are now to be consolidated under one roof at the new group headquarters building. Current planning is for around 500 of the some 8,000 Lanxess employees in Germany to relocate to the new building, which is to be financed preferably by an external investor.

Leverkusen will continue to play a central role for Lanxess in the future, the company adds. “Leverkusen will remain our biggest and most important production location worldwide with the most employees,” said Heitmann. “We will maintain our high level of commitment here in the future as well. Alone this year and next we will be investing around 200 million euros at the site.” Following the move, the company will also continue to use the building which now houses its headquarters at the Leverkusen Chempark.