Following the $63 billion acquisition of Monsanto, many shareholders expressed regret and concern over liabilities represented by lawsuits alleging that glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup® is potentially carcinogenic.

According to Bloomberg, Bayer faces 49,000 U.S. lawsuits and it is estimated that to settle claims, Bayer may have to disperse $10 to $13 billion. Bayer is heavily indebted and its equity value has fallen by a third since the Monsanto acquisition.

The shareholder lawsuit filed in the State Court in Manhattan, demands compensation and punitive damages and disgorgement of pay for executives responsible for the transaction.  The complaint alleges that the acquisition and adverse verdicts resulted in a sharp decline in market capitalization, reducing the value of shares.  Plaintiffs characterized the acquisition as “one of the worst corporate takeovers in history.”