Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP (‘Freshfields’) has advised BASF on its acquisition of significant components of Bayer’s seed and herbicide businesses, which Bayer intends to divest ahead of its planned acquisition of Monsanto. 
 
The assets BASF has agreed to acquire in the transaction include Bayer’s global non-selective herbicide business, including the Liberty® brand, as well as certain seed businesses for key row crops in select jurisdictions, including canola hybrids, oil-seed rape, soybeans, and cotton. BASF will also acquire Bayer’s trait research and breeding capabilities for the acquired seed businesses. Bayer intends to divest the assets in this deal ahead of its planned acquisition of Monsanto. The deal is subject to antitrust approval.
 
The Freshfields team was led by New York partners Peter Lyons, Aly El-Hamamsy, and Matthew Herman and also included senior associate Paul Humphreys and associate Cole Randle. Menachem Kaplan and associate Carryn Vincec led on IP; partner Claude Stansbury and senior associate David Mitchell led on tax; and partners Frank Montag and Rafique Bachour led on antitrust.