Nov. 18 Closing for Sigma-Aldrich Takeover by Merck KGaA

The European Commission has approved the sale of Sigma-Aldrich’s solvents and inorganics business in Europe to Honeywell, finally clearing the path for the US company’s acquisition by Germany’s Merck KGaA for $17 billion. The closing is now scheduled for Nov.18.

Honeywell is paying about €105 million for the assets, which will be integrated into its Fine Chemicals unit. Following completion of the takeover, first announced in September 2014, Sigma-Aldrich’s stock will be delisted from the US NASDAQ exchange.