The controversial merger between Dow Chemical and DuPont was granted conditional approval by the EU on March 27th, paving the way for a deal later this year, despite concerns being raised over apparent attempts to conceal vast liabilities connected with their respective contamination legacies.1-7
After announcing the merger, both companies withheld critical information from shareholders regarding Bhopal liabilities pending against Dow subsidiary Union Carbide. But, unresolved claims in the forthcoming ‘curative’ civil petition alone, aiming to address inadequacies within the 1989 civil settlement, amount to several billion dollars over Carbide’s total book value. In addition, the outstanding criminal manslaughter case has the potential for fines and penalties with no upper limit and Dow has been summoned on five occasions to explain why Union Carbide has never attended court to face the charges.
In the case of DuPont, C8 (or PFOA), a toxin used in the manufacture of Teflon remains a major issue despite DuPont recently making a $670.7 million offer to settle C8 lawsuits connected with contamination emanating from its Washington Works plant in West Virginia. This settlement, if agreed, would include three cases previously tried in a federal court which each received awards running in to the millions of dollars. This makes the $670m proposed settlement look an extremely paltry amount given the 3,500 cases in the class action seeking damages.
Elsewhere, there are known to be serious issues with C-8 contamination around the US, as well as in the Netherlands, Korea, Australia and other countries. In fact, C8 contaminates every continent and country on the globe, and has been detected in the Pacific Ocean and other bodies of water, where the largest concentrations are in the top surface levels.
After the merger, the new company will be split into three and there is real concern as to where the Bhopal and C8 liabilities will lie. In so far as Dow and Bhopal is concerned, Dow has contrived to maintain a corporate veil between itself and Union Carbide as its chief protection from Carbide’s liabilities- although even that has come into question after the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Bhopal summonsed Dow Directly. But, there has been no statement from Dow as to what form Union Carbide may take, nor where it may sit among the three new entities, and this would only seem to suggest further complication before Union Carbide is ever held to account for its actions.
BMA letter to EU competition commissioner outlines apparent attempts by both companies to evade liabilities: CLICK
Further detail on Dow’s Bhopal liabilities and DuPont’s C8 liabilities: CLICK
- Affadavit of Phillip Lochner Concerning the Availability of Assets After Implementation of Merger Agreement Between Dow Chemical Company and E.I. DuPont Nemours & Co. July 27,29017 “The fact that since its merger with UCC, Dow has failed to disclose any potential liability with regard to the Bhopal Disaster in its SEC filings may imply a differential treatment of First World and Developing World liabilities.” Bhopal Expert Opnion – Final – Notarized
- AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER by and among THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY, DIAMONDORION HOLDCO, INC., DIAMOND MERGER SUB, INC., ORION MERGER SUB, INC. and E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY, dated as of December 11, 2015. This document contains no mention of Bhopal liabilities. Merger Agreement
- Amendments to Merger Agreement, March 31, 2017. This document contains no mention of Bhopal liabilities. Merger agreement amendment March 31 2017
- Dow/ DuPont S4 Registration Statement. This document contains no mention of Bhopal liabilities. Dow-Dupont-filed-S4-3-1-2016
- Dow/ DuPont S4 Registration Final Presentation. This document contains no mention of Bhopal liabilities. S-4-Presentation-FINAL
- Dow/ DuPont Spin Off Document. This document contains no mention of Bhopal liabilities. Spin Off Document
- DowDuPont Inc FORM 8-K Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets. This document contains no mention of Bhopal liabilities. Dowdupont 8k 01.09.2017
