The deal involved the largest divestiture required by US regulators for $9 billion
The deal not only faced substantial regulatory hurdles in various countries but also encountered a lot of protests from several groups which included farmers, environmental activists, and others. Monsanto’s reputation has long suffered from several allegations that its products contained carcinogenic chemicals. Several factions criticized the deal saying it would hurt competition and result in price increases while holding protests and demonstrations to block the transaction.
These concerns have heightened following the increasing consolidation among the few major companies in the agriculture industry. The Dow-DuPont and ChemChina-Syngenta mergers have already reduced the number of players in the sector. Bayer said it would work to reach an understanding with its critics. The deal has probably come as a major disappointment to those worried about the future of the agriculture industry.