BRUSSELS, Belgium - Akzo Nobel NV on Friday won EU approval for its $17.1 billion acquisition of Imperial Chemicals Industries PLC, but it must sell off Britain's Crown Paints and an adhesive business to clear antitrust concerns.

By Kate Bowman CHEMICALS group ICI - one of the m

By Russell Lynch ONE of Britain's best-loved brands looked set to fall into foreign hands yesterday after the makers of Dulux paint agreed an pounds 8billion takeover offer.

Dulux paint maker ICI has agreed to an pounds 8.1 billion takeover by Dutch chemicals group Akzo Nobel. ICI, which has a packaging coatings division in Birmingham, is set to announce today that it has recommended a 670p a share offer from the maker of Crown paints, according to reports.

By Rebekah Ashby ICI, a former jewel in the North-East business crown, has agreed to a foreign takeover, it was reported yesterday. ICI, which once employed 30,000 people in the region, has agreed to an pounds 8.1bn takeover by Dutch chemicals group Akzo Nobel.