Bayer Pursued Monsanto Despite Concerns

(The Wall Street Journal) When Werner Baumann as a senior executive at Bayer AG BAYRY -0.34 was mulling a plan to acquire Monsanto the idea so troubled Bayers chief executive at the time that he didnt want to be associated with it according to people familiar with the matter. Nearly three years later the concern appears prescient. Bayer went on to buy Monsanto once Mr. Baumann became CEO in 2016 with the $63-billion acquisition closing earlier this year. But as the fusing of the two businesses proceeds the deal that was meant to turn the inventor of Aspirin into the No. 1 provider of crop seeds and pesticides has become one of Bayers biggest problems. Read More