BRUSSELS (AP) -- The European Commission said Wednesday that it should take charge of authorizing Procter & Gamble Co.'s takeover of Sara Lee Inc.'s Ambi Pur air freshener business.
The euro320 million deal is under the EU's limit for ruling on takeovers and would usually be dealt with by regulators in European nations where the companies operate.
The EU's executive said five European nations -- Germany, Britain, Belgium, Spain and Portugal -- had made the rare move of asking the European Commission to take charge. It will now ask P&G, headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, to formally submit the deal to the Brussels-based commission.
The deal adds strength for consumer-products giant P&G in Europe and will complement its Febreze line of deodorizers, which is sold mainly in North America. Sara Lee is selling the unit to focus on its main business as a food maker.
