The
European Commission, which halted its scrutiny in early
September, will now decide by Feb. 6 whether to approve the
deal.
Commission spokesman Ricardo Cardoso confirmed in an email that
the companies had submitted important information requested by
the EU competition enforcer.
The Commission opened a full investigation into the case in
August, concerned that the deal to create the world's largest
integrated crop protection and seeds company might reduce
competition in these sectors as well as certain petrochemicals.
The agricultural chemicals industry has seen a wave of
consolidation in recent months.
The Commission is also examining another agrichemicals deal
involving ChemChina and Syngenta <SYNN.S>.
German pharmaceutical and crop chemicals manufacturer Bayer AG <BAYGn.DE>
also plans to buy U.S. peer and world No. 1 seeds company
Monsanto Co <MON.N>.
(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee, writing by Julia Fioretti; editing
by Philip Blenkinsop)
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