BASF Is Sleeping Giant on Deals as Bayer Moves on Monsanto
- German chemicals maker fears overpaying, losing integration
- CEO Kurt Bock may buy agrochemicals assets discarded on deals
Bayer Pursues Monsanto in Unsolicited $45 Billion Bid
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With an aversion to overpaying and conviction that a conglomerate approach is best, Germany’s BASF SE has so far sat out the biggest-ever consolidation wave in the global crop chemicals and seeds industry.
In the lead up to Bayer AG’s unsolicited takeover proposal for Monsanto Co on Thursday, Chief Executive Officer Kurt Bock has talked up thrift, balking at the price tags placed on assets. Rather than betting the farm on a big deal and challenging arch agrochemicals rival Bayer for Monsanto, Bock appears content to stay out of the fray, ready to selectively buy up any businesses that may come to the market in the dust of mega deals.