Bayer agrees to delay next glyphosate lawsuit trial as settlement possibly nears

 Bayer may be close to settling thousands of lawsuits alleging exposure to Roundup as a cause of cancer.

 The company agreed to delay a trial due to start on Friday in state court in St. Louis in order "to provide room for the parties to continue the mediation process in good faith under the auspices of Ken Feinberg," a mediator appointed by a federal judge in California.

 Feinberg, who was a special master for the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, told Bloomberg he was "cautiously optimistic" about reaching a settlement but also that it would be "premature to state that a settlement is near or will be reached."

 "While Bayer is constructively engaged in the mediation process, there is no comprehensive agreement at this time," the company said. "There also is no certainty or timetable for a comprehensive resolution."

 News reports have put the figure for a settlement between $8 billion and $10 billion.