Bayer to Sell $9 Billion in Assets to Get Green Light for Monsanto Deal

The U.S. Department of Justice on Tuesday granted antitrust approval to Bayer AG's planned acquisition of Monsanto Co., reports the Wall Street Journal , after requiring the German company to sell off nearly $9 billion in assets as a means of preserving competition. The Bayer assets are being sold to chemicals rival BASF SE.

Crop science execs defend mergers; NC Senator cites regulation as driving deals

Top officials for Monsanto and Bayer defended their proposed $66 billion merger before skeptical senators on Tuesday, insisting that the deal would lead to greater investments in technology that could help American farmers. Monsanto, the American seed and weed-killer, and Bayer, the German medicine and farm-chemical maker, responded to concerns from Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley, the Republican chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.