Bayer says it will pay up to US$10.9 billion to settle outstanding Monsanto litigation over weedkiller Roundup, which faces thousands of lawsuits over claims it causes cancer.

This will bring closure to approximately 75% of the current Roundup litigation involving approximately 125,000 filed and unfiled claims overall.

The company will make a payment of $8.8 billion to $9.6 billion to resolve the current Roundup litigation, including an allowance expected to cover unresolved claims and $1.25 billion to support a separate class agreement to address potential future litigation.

Bayer is also resolving dicamba drift litigation for payment of up to $400 million and most PCB water litigation exposure for payment of approximately $820 million.