Intellectual Thoughts by Sanjay Panda


Bayer and Monsanto to Create a Global Leader in Agriculture



In the largest deal of 2016 (so far), after months of negotiations  with several  baby steps  agriculture giants Bayer and Monsanto announced  that  they are planning to merge. In an  all-cash   transaction    Bayer  striking the deal a $128  a share  valuing Monsanto at $66B.  including the debt.


Consolidation has been driven by a global  glut that has pushed down crop prices and hurt farm incomes, leading to reduced investment in agricultural inputs such as fertilisers and  Agrochemicals.   Several Mega & small mergers are right now underway/partially completed   like Dow Chemical and DuPont, ChemChina &   Syngenta, FMC & Cheminova  etc.

But the proposed merger  likely face an intense and lengthy regulatory process If the deal closes, it will create a company commanding more than a quarter of the combined world market for seeds and pesticides in the fast-consolidating farm supplies industry.

Both the   company executives claims the  businesses are complimentary & there is very little overlap between them.  However antitrust experts have said regulators  likely  demand the sale of some soybeans, cotton and canola seed assets.

The transaction includes a $2-billion break-up fee that Bayer will pay to Monsanto should it fail to get regulatory clearance. Bayer expects the deal to close by the end of 2017.

Can NSG be far behind? as India enters MTCR.



India became the 35th member of the Missile Technology  Control Regime (MTCR) as the members of the international anti-proliferation grouping agreed to admit India in the regime. The decks were cleared for India’s entry when it joined the Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation.

MTCR is the first step for India’s entry in the four export control bodies, including the NSG (essentially  founded in response to the  Indian nuclear test in May 1974) , the Wassenaar  Arrangement and the Australia Group.   Entry & membership   of  few of  these  groups would end decades of denial of  some technology  &  further   will enable India to become a major supplier/player in the global missile market,   the technology  available in house now.  Over the years, it has developed technology that allows it to make missiles that precisely hit the targets.

While the NSG is focused on stemming the proliferation of nuclear weapons, the Wassenaar Arrangement establishes lists of items for which member countries are to apply export controls. Australia Group formed in 1985 prompted by Iraq’s use of chemical weapons during the Iran-Iraq War.

Only a few days ahead of  the MTCR clincher, India’s bid to enter the much-coveted  Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) was denied by  China, a  member in the group,  by blocking it.  China, has been  playing  the spoilsport  since long  but an entry to MTCR  should  not be long  before India takes its due  & deserve  seat in the NSG  which Is been pending since long.