Report: Bayer Shareholder Proposes Monsanto ‘Hostile Takeover’

One of Bayer AG’s top 20 shareholders said Wednesday it may make sense for the life-science company to launch an unsolicited bid for Monsanto Co. after the U.S. seeds specialist rejected an improved offer Tuesday, reports WallStreetJournal.com’s Eyk Henning.

“Such a move would be seen as hostile but could put pressure on Monsanto’s management to grant Bayer access to its books,” Markus Manns of Union Investment told The Wall Street Journal.

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Union Investment is Bayer’s 14th largest investor with a 0.7% stake, according to Thomson Reuters data.

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The fund manager added that a friendly negotiated deal would “certainly be the preferred option” because an agreed deal is smoother.

“In any case, Bayer has room to improve its offer to a maximum of $135 per share but no more,” Mr. Manns said, adding the acquisition would otherwise become too much of a financial risk.

Visit WSJ.com to check out the latest on Bayer-Monsanto.

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