The California verdict against Monsanto has opened the door for what is estimated as 8,000 lawsuits against Monsanto, now being absorbed by Bayer. On a call with analysts and reporters, Bayer CEO Werner Baumann said the number of plaintiffs in both state and federal litigation was approximately 8,000 as of the end of July. Bayer acquired Monsanto in June and …
Bayer/Monsanto Merger Clears All Hurdles
It has taken months of divesting, negotiating and waiting, but Bayer and Monsanto will complete their merger. An agweb.com article notes German-based Bayer can now officially begin integrating Monsanto after Bayer divested itself of certain Crop Science businesses in a sale to BASF. The name Monsanto is expected to officially disappear in the future. However, familiar brand names like Dekalb, …
BASF Closes Acquisition of Bayer’s Vegetable Seeds Business
BASF announced this week it has closed the acquisition of Bayer’s global vegetable seeds business. The transaction, BASF says in a news release, “adds a well-recognized brand with a very successful business track record to BASF’s portfolio.” The acquired vegetable seeds business comprises 24 crops and about 2,600 varieties. It also includes a research and development operation, and breeding systems …
Bayer Takes Market Hit from Glyphosate Ruling
The first day of trading following a jury ruling against Monsanto pushed shares of Bayer down 12 percent. Monsanto, recently acquired by Bayer, was ordered to pay $289 million as part of a lawsuit alleging glyphosate causes cancer. While Bayer says the verdict is “at odds with the weight of scientific evidence,” the ruling by a California Jury claimed glyphosate, …
BASF Closes Acquisition of Businesses and Assets from Bayer
BASF has closed the acquisition of a range of businesses and assets from Bayer. The transaction, the company says, is a “strategic complement” to BASF’s crop protection, biotech and digital farming activities and marks its entry into seeds, non-selective herbicides and nematicide seed treatments. A spokesperson for BASF says the move “adds excellent assets” to the BASF portfolio. BASF signed …
Bayer-Monsanto Deal Should Close in the Second Quarter of 2018
Bayer AG CEO Werner Baumann says he’s confident they’ll win European Approval of their deal to acquire Monsanto. A Bloomberg report says he’s trying to win the approval of its $66 billion acquisition while contemplating the sale of more businesses. He says, without the Monsanto acquisition, Bayer sales and profits will grind to a halt this year. Company shares dropped …
EU to Lists Objections to Bayer-Monsanto Deal
The European Union is setting up potential reasons to reject Bayer AG’s takeover of Monsanto. This week, the EU is expected to send Bayer a so-called statement of objections that list potential reasons for the EU to block the $66 billion proposal. Bloomberg News reports regulators are looking “very carefully” at the competition issues in the combination of Bayer and …
Bayer, Luke Bryan, Celebrate Successful Feeding Campaign
A campaign by Bayer and country star Luke Bryan has donated more than one million meals to hungry families. Bayer says the “Here’s to the Farmer” campaign this year asked Luke Bryan fans to give thanks to American Farmers, while also helping hungry Americans. Bayer donated one meal through Feeding America for each #HeresToTheFarmer hashtag share online. The campaign, coinciding …
EU Starts In-Depth Look at Bayer-Monsanto Deal
A regulatory watchdog in the European Union is taking an in-depth look at the Bayer-Monsanto deal, a move that Bayer says the company expected. A news release by Bayer says the company had expected a further review of the proposed acquisition of Monsanto due to the size and scope of the transaction. Bayer believes that the proposed combination will be …
China Approves More GMO Crops
China’s Ministry of Agriculture announced it has approved two more genetically modified crops for import into the country. A Reuters article says it’s the second move in the past month to expand access to biotech seeds as a part of Beijing’s 100-day trade talks with Washington. The Ministry approved Syngenta’s 5307 insecticide-resistant corn sold under the Agrisure Duricade brand. It …