DÜSSELDORF, Germany - Henkel Corp., the U.S.-based affiliate of the Henkel Group of Germany, announced an agreement to acquire Sovereign Specialty Chemicals Inc., an adhesives, sealants and coatings manufacturer based in Chicago, in a transaction valued at $575 million.

Under the agreement, Henkel will acquire all the shares of Sovereign from an investor group led by AEA Investors L.L.C. Following completion, Sovereign will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Henkel.