By Nina Kienle

The European Commission said it approved the acquisition of BASF's coatings division by U.S. private equity firm Carlyle, subject to agreed conditions.

The commission-the European Union's executive branch-- said on Tuesday that the approval is subject to Carlyle fulfilling all agreed commitments, notably the divestment of Nouryon's worldwide polysulfides business, including its production plant and related assets, to a suitable purchaser.

The German chemical company announced the sale of the division in October, valuing the business at around 7.7 billion euros ($8.96 billion) including debt. Under the terms previously disclosed, BASF said it would keep a 40% stake in the newly formed company.

The commission had raised concerns that the merger could harm competition in the aerospace sealants market. As one of only two global suppliers of polysulfides--a critical ingredient in aerospace sealants--Nouryon could have allowed the combined company to limit competitors' access to essential materials, the commission said.

Regulators also said the deal could provide access to competitors' sensitive business information, potentially giving the merged group an unfair advantage.

The sale is part of BASF's strategy to slim down its portfolio and focus on core operations.

Write to Nina Kienle at nina.kienle@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

June 03, 2026 02:19 ET (06:19 GMT)

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