Private equity firm Cinven has agreed to acquire Bayer’s Environmental Science Professional (ESP) business for €2.4 billion. The deal should close in Q2, subject to customary closing conditions. Bayer had originally announced plans to divest the business, which is headquartered in Cary, North Carolina, in February 2021.

ESP offers pest, disease and weed control in non-agricultural areas such as vector control, professional pest management, vegetation management, forestry, turf and ornamentals. In 2021, it employed about 800 people in over 100 countries.