BASF Sues Clariant, Celanese in €1.4 Billion Cartel Suit (1)

Clariant AG and Celanese Corp. are among four companies sued for a total of €1.4 billion ($1.4 billion) by German chemicals maker BASF SE over collusion on the ethylene purchasing market that sparked hefty fines by the European Commission five years ago.

BASF confirmed on Tuesday that it brought the action in a Munich court against all the members of a ethylene purchasing cartel — also including Orbia Advance Corp. SAB de CV and Westlake Chemical Corp.

“The illegal conduct of these companies has distorted the pricing of ethylene and certain ethylene derivatives and BASF is ...