WSJ : Dow Chemical And DuPont In Advanced Talks To Merge

(RTTNews) - Dow Chemical Co. (DOW) and EI DuPont De Nemours & Co. (DD) or DuPont Co are in advanced talks to merge, the Wall Street Journal reported citing people familiar with the matter.

The chemical giants, which have a market capitalization of about $60 billion each, could announce a merger in coming days. It would be followed by a three-way breakup of the combined company, the report said, a common approach to mergers and acquisitions of late.

Dow's Chief Executive Andrew Liveris is expected to be executive chairman of the new company, with DuPont Chief Executive Edward Breen keeping that title. A deal has not yet been inked and the talks could fall apart, the journal cautioned.

DOW closed Tuesday trading at $50.90, down $1.13 or 2.17%. However, in after-hours, the stock up $2.80 or 5.50%.

DD closed Tuesday trading at $66.60, down $0.50 or 0.75%. But, in after-hours the stock up $4.39 or 6.59%.