Bayer Proposes $7.25 Billion Settlement to Resolve Roundup Lawsuits

German pharmaceutical and crop science company Bayer has proposed a $7.25 billion settlement to address ongoing lawsuits alleging that its Roundup weedkiller causes cancer. The company announced the proposal on Tuesday, February 13, 2026, and simultaneously revealed an additional €4 billion provision for litigation costs and liabilities, bringing the total set aside to €11.8 billion Financial Times.

Settlement Details and Supreme Court Involvement

The proposed settlement, which covers both current and future litigation, requires approval from a U.S. Court. This move represents another attempt by Bayer to resolve the long-running and costly legal battles linked to the glyphosate-based weedkiller. Bayer’s exposure to these lawsuits originated with its 2016 acquisition of U.S. Crop science giant Monsanto.

Bayer CEO Bill Anderson stated that the alternative to settlement would be “spending decades in legal disputes,” and that litigation uncertainty “has plagued the company for years.” The company anticipates a “negative free cash flow” for the year due to the settlement, but has secured an $8 billion bank loan facility to fund the payments without needing to raise additional capital.

The settlement payments are structured over 21 years, providing Bayer with “greater certainty and control regarding its litigation costs for current claims and potential future claimants.” Following the announcement, Bayer’s shares rose by more than 8 percent in late afternoon trading Financial Times.

Previous Settlement Attempts and Legal Strategy

This new settlement proposal follows a previous attempt in 2020, which was capped at $10.9 billion but was later partially overturned by a court. Bayer maintains that glyphosate is safe, citing supporting scientific research, but thousands of Americans attribute their Non-Hodgkin lymphoma to exposure to the herbicide.

Simultaneously, the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to review Bayer’s appeal in a case that could potentially limit the number of Roundup lawsuits. Bayer views both the settlement proposal and the Supreme Court case as “independently necessary and mutually reinforcing elements” in its strategy to manage the litigation Financial Times.

Leadership Changes at Bayer

The current CEO, Bill Anderson, took over in 2023, succeeding Werner Baumann, who resigned a year early due to pressure from investors dissatisfied with the handling of the Monsanto acquisition and subsequent litigation.

Financial Reporting Update

Bayer announced it will release its full-year results for 2025 on March 4, a week later than originally scheduled.