Monsanto Co., the world’s largest seed company, is quietly working with Syngenta AG to iron out regulatory concerns that could stymie its proposed takeover of its Swiss rival, people with knowledge of the situation said.
Antitrust lawyers for the two companies are discussing how to address regulatory hurdles that would arise from the combination, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the talks are private. The efforts don’t guarantee that Monsanto will raise its offer or that an agreement will be reached, the people said.
Syngenta would consider entering formal negotiations if Monsanto sufficiently raises its offer and provides a multibillion-dollar termination fee to compensate for the risks of completing a deal, said the people.