Some Shady Business: Bayer Mulling Bankruptcy for Monsanto to Dodge Glyphosate Lawsuits
Bayer mulls Monsanto bankruptcy as means to discharge glyphosate lawsuit claimants.
In a controversial move, Bayer, the conglomerate behind Monsanto, is reportedly pondering a master plan to offload the financial weight of glyphosate lawsuits hanging over its U.S. subsidiary. According to whispers, this could potentially mean sending Monsanto into bankruptcy and shedding billions in glyphosate-associated claims.
The chemical glyphosate, marketed in the U.S. under the Roundup brand, is infamous for its suspected carcinogenic properties. While Bayer stands by its claims of glyphosate safety, questioning its carcinogenicity, and several regulatory bodies agree, a host of legal battles involving thousands of plaintiffs tell a different story. As of 2025, Bayer has already splurged a whopping $10 billion in settlements and allocated another $5.9 billion for the pending cases, a total of around 67,000.
The latest lawsuit drama to hit the headlines is a $2 billion verdict passed by a court in Georgia, which Bayer is now appealing. The majority of the pending cases are currently being tackled by a court in Missouri, with Bayer making efforts to negotiate a settlement.
If these negotiations fail, and the financial ramifications of glyphosate charges remain uncertain, a bankruptcy filing for Monsanto might be on the cards, according to the Wall Street Journal's insiders. Word on the street is that Bayer has enlisted the help of a law firm and a consulting agency to assess the feasibility of this plan. As of now, Bayer has kept schtum on the matter.
Industry insiders argue that pursuing bankruptcy under U.S. law would grant Monsanto protection from creditors' claims. In such a scenario, Bayer would likely lose control of the company, leaving a trail of negatives—lengthy court battles, controversial legal maneuvers, and a dent in public perception. However, some companies have adopted this strategy to discard liability claims, albeit in questionable legal territory.
The Leverkusen-based Bayer splashed out $63 billion on Monsanto way back in 2018, an investment that seems to be dwindling away with each passing day. As of 2025, only around $25 billion of the initial market value remains, showcasing the catastrophic consequences of the Monsanto takeover for Bayer.
- The community and employment policies of Bayer, given its controversial plan to possibly bankrupt Monsanto, may face reevaluation to address the financial implications and public perception amidst the glyphosate lawsuits.
- The financial industry and business world are closely watching the situation unfold between Bayer and Monsanto, with industry experts demonstrating interest in how the company's strategy to potentially shuffle glyphosate-related claims via bankruptcy could impact future acquisitions and liability issues.
