- The European Union's antitrust agency indicates it would conduct a strict review of Bayer's (OTCPK:BAYRY) pending $62B purchase of Monsanto (NYSE:MON), an unusually early statement before the EU has received formal notification of a deal.
- "In our investigation, we will take into account your concerns about the effects of the Bayer-Monsanto merger on prices, the variety of available seed products as well as research and innovation," EU antitrust head Margrethe Vestager said in a letter to two members of the European Parliament, posted on the Green Party's website.
- Vestager also suggested the EU would consider the context that several mergers in the sector would be taking place at the same time; Bayer's bid comes as other rivals including Dow Chemical, DuPont and Syngenta also have made plans to merge, which could mean that some markets already may be more concentrated by the time Bayer formally notifies EU regulators of any deal.