Bayer’s Roundup Misery Toll Depends on Who Runs the Numbers
- Settlement estimates range from $2.5 billion to $20 billion
- Analysts look at Vioxx, fen-phen deals to predict costs
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There’s a $2.5 billion question hanging over Bayer AG. Or perhaps a $20 billion question, depending on who you ask.
As lawsuits mount claiming the embattled German company’s weedkiller Roundup causes cancer, analysts are scrambling to calculate the size of its potential settlement costs. The exercise requires a little math and a lot of reading tea leaves, which is why estimates range from manageable to colossal.