(Dow Jones) -- EU's move to open an in-depth review of Dow-DuPont merger plan may delay that deal's closing by 1-2 months past the late October-early November timeframe that execs had previously flagged, but it carries ominous tones for Bayer's (BAYRY) quest to buy Monsanto (MON). Bernstein analysts see EU move as "a shot across the bow" for the latter deal as Bayer seeks to wring $1.5B in synergies from acquiring Monsanto, and a quick approval for DowDuPont would've provided a guide for concessions that may be needed to steer a Bayer-Monsanto combination through a global antitrust gauntlet. That "leaves Bayer in the dark for quite some time, and we expect this to reduce Bayer's appetite for a higher bid even more," Bernstein says.
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