A group of U.S. state attorneys general has reportedly joined the federal investigation of the proposed $130 billion merger of Dow Chemical and DuPont.
According to Reuters, “about seven states, including California,” have joined the federal probe of the Dow-DuPont deal, which would create a new agribusiness giant after the companies split off into three new entities. The state involvement adds to ongoing government antitrust scrutiny and will likely further complicate the deal’s completion.
“In the U.S., we are working constructively with federal and state regulatory authorities, elected officials and all agriculture stakeholders to show the pro-competitive benefits of the merger,” Dow and DuPont said in statements to Reuters.
Sources say that a separate group of state attorneys general is also expected to join the review of Bayer Ag’s $66 billion deal to acquire St. Louis-based Monsanto, according to Reuters. It is still unknown how many states plan on joining the Bayer-Monsanto review.
Monsanto recently set a Dec. 13 date for a special meeting to allow shareholders to vote on the proposed merger agreement with Bayer.
The meeting will be held at the company’s global research and development headquarters in Chesterfield, Missouri.