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The
European 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 may reduce
competition in these sectors as well as certain petrochemicals.
"The Commission has stopped the clock in its in-depth
investigation into the proposed merger between Dow and Dupont,"
a spokesman said.
"This procedure in merger investigations is activated if the
parties do not provide an important piece of information that
the Commission has requested from them."
The EU antitrust enforcer will set a new deadline for its
investigation once it has received the required data. DuPont and
Dow Chemicals, which aim to close the deal in early 2017, had
previously offered concessions which regulators said were
insufficient.
The agrichemicals industry has seen a wave of consolidation in
recent months. ChemChina may seek EU approval next week for its
$43 billion takeover of Swiss pesticides and seeds group
Syngenta, according to a person familiar with the matter.
German pharmaceutical and crop chemicals manufacturer Bayer AG
is also pursuing U.S. peer and world No. 1 seeds company
Monsanto Co.
(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle)
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