FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Monsanto (N:MON) has given German suitor Bayer (DE:BAYGn) limited access to its books after turning down a sweetened $64-billion (£49.21 billion) takeover offer last month, two sources familiar with the situation told Reuters.
The parties have not yet signed a non-disclosure agreement, which would allow Bayer to conduct due diligence, but the U.S. seed company is giving Bayer a limited drip of information, the sources said.
They said Bayer had no appetite to put the deal at risk by going hostile, although talks were "difficult".
Monsanto and Bayer declined to comment.
The seeds and agrochemicals industry, long dominated by a handful of big companies, has been jolted by several large deals in the past year as low crop prices and belt-tightening by farmers pressured earnings.
Monsanto's rejection last month of the German healthcare and chemicals group's latest offer put pressure on Bayer to offer more to at least get access to Monsanto's books.
Bayer shares pared earlier losses to trade 2 percent lower at 95.95 euros by 1507 GMT. Monsanto shares were down 1.56 percent at $103.80, well below Bayer's $125 per share offer.