The Rising Influence of Rising Affluence

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And another rumor floating around that MON and SYT are getting close to agreement on suitable price, per CNBC. Supposedly Paulson of hedge fund fame has taken position in SYT.

He must be smelling BASF entering the picture should MON and SYT agree or come close to agreement. A bidding war for SYT would be the hedge fund's dream I suppose. It would resemble GDT, with BSX and JNJ exchanging and raising offers right and left, all over again.

Yesterday:

"FRANKFURT, Aug 3 (Reuters) - German chemicals group BASF has lined up a loan package from large multinational banks for a potential takeover offer for Syngenta, the Swiss crop chemicals maker which has received a $45 billion takeover offer from Monsanto, several people familiar with the matter said.

"BASF has committed financing in place to buy Syngenta," one of the people said, asking not to be identified because the negotiations are confidential.

BASF will only decide to submit a bid for Syngenta if Monsanto makes an offer for the Swiss group, the sources said, adding that BASF was comfortable with there being no merger at all and the status quo in the industry prevailing.

"BASF will not be a first mover but remain a reactive player," one of the people said....."