Henkel to Buy Dutch Coatings Maker Stahl for €2.1 Billion

Henkel AG agreed to buy Netherlands-based specialty coatings company Stahl Holdings BV for €2.1 billion ($2.5 billion) from private equity firm Wendel SE, the latest deal in the under-pressure chemicals industry.

Minority shareholders BASF SE and Clariant AG, which together control more than 30% of Stahl, will also sell their stakes, Wendel said Wednesday. The deal will strengthen Henkel’s adhesive technologies unit, the German chemical maker’s Chief Executive Officer Carsten Knobel said.