Abu Dhabi’s state-owned oil company, ADNOC, is set to receive unconditional approval from the European Union for its €14.7 billion ($16.6 billion) acquisition of Germany’s Covestro, sources told Reuters on Tuesday.
The European Commission, which is expected to make its decision by May 12, sees no competition issues with the deal, as there is no overlap between ADNOC and Covestro’s business operations. This clears the way for ADNOC’s largest acquisition to date and marks a key step in its strategy to move beyond crude oil into downstream operations and advanced materials.
The acquisition will bring Covestro, a leading producer of plastics and chemicals used in industries like automotive, construction, and electronics, under ADNOC’s international investment arm, XRG. Once the deal is complete, XRG will become the majority shareholder in Covestro, strengthening the Gulf region’s presence in Europe’s industrial sector.
This move is part of ADNOC’s broader strategy to diversify its portfolio. As the global energy transition accelerates, ADNOC and other Gulf producers are using their oil revenue to invest in sectors like chemicals, fertilizers, and renewable energy.
The deal has already been approved by regulators in South Africa and India without any major conditions. However, ADNOC is still awaiting potential scrutiny under the EU’s new Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR), which targets non-EU firms that may receive unfair state support. ADNOC has not yet filed under the FSR, but it successfully navigated this challenge last year during its acquisition of Fertiglobe.
Although Covestro has downgraded its profit expectations for 2025, the acquisition provides the company with financial backing and long-term stability under ADNOC’s ownership.
If the deal is finalized in the second half of 2025, it will signal a continued shift of Middle Eastern oil wealth into strategic industries outside traditional hydrocarbons, securing a foothold in the industries of the future before Europe potentially closes the door to such investments.
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