Bayer AG

CEO Bill Anderson, at the helm since June last year, said in November he is weighing options to break apart the diversified company in a staggered fashion but would not rule out keeping all businesses

The change could have financial implications for leading drug manufacturers like Abbott Laboratories, Bayer AG, and GlaxoSmithKline, among others

The German drugs and pesticides maker has come to terms with about 75 per cent of the current Roundup plaintiffs

The company faces separate allegations that its glyphosate-based weed killer Roundup causes cancer

Bayer shares are down 31% since the company completed the $63 billion takeover of Monsanto, prompting some investors to demand the resignation of Chief Executive Officer Werner Baumann.

Baumann suffers defeat with 55% of shareholders in opposition

To create the world's biggest agricultural supplier

The firm has held preliminary discussions internally and with advicers; financing, including potential asset sales, also discussed