US: FTC asks Clariant, Huntsman for more info on merger

Swiss chemicals maker Clariant and US-based Huntsman said on Tuesday US regulators had asked for more information on their proposed merger, but they were confident of still closing the deal by the end of this year.

Huntsman said the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) had on Monday made a second request for information relating to two products – sodium isethionate, used in personal care products such as soap, and a polyetheramine product used in certain construction and paint and ink applications.

Both companies said in nearly identical statements they were confident they could satisfy any FTC concerns on a timeline consistent with the merger, which they continue to expect to close around the end of the year.

The two companies said in May they would merge to create a chemical manufacturer with a market value of about US$14 billion.

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