MIDLAND, MI — The European Commission has approved Dow Chemical Co.’s merger with Union Carbide Corp., contingent on the divestiture of some Union Carbide European polyethylene assets and Dow’s worldwide ethyleneamines business, excluding the company’s facility in Terneuzen, The Netherlands. The approval also requires the licensing of certain polyethylene gas-phase technology worldwide.

The companies remain in discussions with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and Canadian antitrust authorities regarding the proposed merger.