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Abu Dhabi’s national oil company has agreed a €14.7bn deal to buy German chemicals group Covestro in one of the largest European takeovers this year.
Adnoc, which has been pursuing Covestro since last year, has offered €62 per share for the German company. It will also inject €1.17bn of new money into the chemicals group.
Adnoc chief executive Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber said: “As a global leader and industrial pioneer in chemicals, Covestro brings unmatched expertise in high-tech speciality chemicals and materials, using advanced technologies including AI.”
The two sides have been in talks since Adnoc made an initial informal offer in September 2023.
Covestro initially rejected offers of below €60 a share and then debated whether its sustainability drive would be undermined by ownership by Adnoc.
Markus Steilemann, chief executive of Covestro, said: “With Adnoc International’s support, we will have an even stronger foundation for sustainable growth in highly attractive sectors and can make an even greater contribution to the green transformation.”
Adnoc said it had asked the Covestro management team to stay on after the completion of the deal. It also said it would support “the commitments made to Covestro’s employees and has undertaken to uphold existing works council, collective bargaining, and similar agreements”.
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