What is the main topic?

The main topic is Clariant's legal defense against a €1.4 billion lawsuit from BASF related to alleged ethylene cartel activities.

What are the implications of the lawsuit?

The lawsuit could result in significant financial penalties and impact market operations if BASF's claims are upheld.

What was the EU's role in this case?

The EU fined several companies, including Clariant, for antitrust violations related to ethylene purchases in 2020.

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Home > Finance > Clariant to fight 1.4 billion euro ethylene lawsuit from BASF

Finance

Clariant to fight 1.4 billion euro ethylene lawsuit from BASF

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®

Posted on January 14, 2025

2 min read

Last updated: January 27, 2026

Clariant's legal battle over BASF's 1.4 billion euro ethylene lawsuit - Global Banking & Finance Review — The image illustrates Clariant's response to BASF's 1.4 billion euro lawsuit regarding alleged collusion in ethylene purchases. This legal dispute highlights significant EU antitrust issues in the finance sector.

Clariant Challenges BASF's €1.4 Billion Ethylene Lawsuit

BERLIN (Reuters) -Clariant said it would defend itself against a claim from German rival BASF-LAWSUIT-95e84a04-e252-4d6e-a752-385822505523>BASF seeking 1.4 billion euros ($1.4 billion) in damages from a group of companies, including Clariant, fined by the EU for colluding in the purchase of ethylene before 2020.

Clariant was served with a claim targeting four companies on Jan. 9, the Swiss chemicals group said in a statement issued late on Monday.

The European Commission in 2020 fined Clariant, Mexico's Orbia and U.S. group Celanese a total of 260 million euros for colluding to keep the price of ethylene purchases low, breaching European Union antitrust rules.

The EU Commission said at the time that Westlake also took part in the purchasing cartel but was spared a fine because it revealed the activities to the Commission.

Clariant said it had evidence that the conduct of the parties did not have any effect on the market.

"Clariant firmly rejects the allegation and will adamantly defend its position in the proceedings," it added.

BASF-LAWSUIT-95e84a04-e252-4d6e-a752-385822505523>BASF did not respond to an emailed request for comment.

A Clariant spokesperson confirmed that BASF-LAWSUIT-95e84a04-e252-4d6e-a752-385822505523>BASF's claims were directed at the four companies and that there would have to be a separate decision on how any compensation payment is to be distributed among them once there is a legally valid verdict.

The other companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

BASF-LAWSUIT-95e84a04-e252-4d6e-a752-385822505523>BASF's claim was filed with a Munich court, alleging damages from infringements of EU competition rules in the 2020 case, according to Clariant.

Clariant shares were down 1.5% as of 1300 GMT.

The EU Commission also said in 2020 that the four companies acknowledged their involvement in the cartel and agreed to settle the case.

($1 = 0.9747 euros)

(Writing by Rachel More and Ludwig Burger; editing by Jason Neely, Miranda Murray and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)

Clariant to fight 1.4 billion euro ethylene lawsuit from BASF

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Clariant Challenges BASF's €1.4 Billion Ethylene Lawsuit

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