Bayer reportedly considering hostile takeover of Monsanto

After months of unsuccessful courting, German chemicals giant Bayer is reportedly considering making an unsolicited bid for the US seed specialist, which rejected an improved offer from the Germans in July.

German business daily Handelsblatt reported Tuesday that the Bayer management was preparing a plan to "turn directly to shareholders" to secure the planned merger.

Citing sources close to management, the option could materialize if Monsanto continued to insist on a price that Bayer saw as "too risky."

Monsanto has already rejected two offers from Bayer, calling an increased bid of $125 (111 euros) per share in July "financially inadequate" because it continued to undervalue the biotech seed giant. However, Monsanto left the door open to further talks.

"In the coming weeks, chief executive Werner Baumann will make a decision: namely whether a friendly merger is still possible, or whether Bayer must choose an alternative path," the sources told Handelsblatt.

Read more at Deutsche Welle