Bayer says no plans to restructure despite Roundup litigation threat

Bayer has stated it has no current plans to restructure, including spinning off its subsidiary Monsanto, despite facing a significant volume of lawsuits related to its Roundup weedkiller. Bayer CEO Bill Anderson indicated that the ongoing litigation, which involves approximately 100,000 plaintiffs, poses a threat to the company's production of glyphosate-based pesticides in the United States, suggesting that a resolution to the legal issues is necessary to continue U.S. glyphosate production. Bayer, the sole U.S. producer of glyphosate, acquired Monsanto in 2018 for $63 billion, inheriting litigation from consumers who claim Roundup's active ingredient caused cancer. The company is employing multiple strategies to address the lawsuits, including seeking large settlements, advocating for legislative changes in state governments, and appealing court verdicts. A proposed $7.25 billion settlement aims to resolve most pending lawsuits, though some plaintiffs are objecting. Bayer has also faced setbacks, such as a provision in the Farm Bill that would have shielded pesticide companies from some lawsuits failing to pass the House of Representatives.