
A protest in Germany against Bayer's takeover deal for Monsanto. Photo by Patrick Stollarz/AFP/Getty Images
Germany's Bayer is expected to close its $62.5 billion purchase of Monsanto this Thursday, at which point it will retire the acquired brand.
The bottom line: Environmentalists and other progressive activists won't have the Monsanto name to kick around much longer, even though its products will live on.