FRANKFURT AM MAIN, Germany (AFP) — German chemicals giant BASF has agreed to merge its Wintershall oil and gas unit with the DEA energy firm owned by Russia’s billionaire entrepreneur Mikhail Fridman. The multi-billion-euro deal will create “one of the largest independent European exploration and production companies” with “significant growth potential” and scope for synergies, BASF said in a statement late Thursday. BASF said it would initially hold 67 percent of shares in the joint venture, which […]