A decision by EU competition authorities on the sale of German PVC converter HT Troplast (www.ht-troplast.com), Troisdorf, to a US private equity consortium of Carlyle Group, Dallas / Texas, und Advent International, Boston, is to be made by 4 January 2005. The consortium filed for approval of the deal in late November 2004. HT is parent of European PVC window profile market leader Profine, Troisdorf. The company´s "Trosifol" PVB films business was sold recently to Kuraray (www.kuraray.co.jp), Tokyo / Japan. Carlyle subsidiary Key Plastics (www.keyplastics.com), acquired the automotive division of Kendrion (www.kendrion.com), Zeist / The Netherlands, in September 2004. Advent is owner of German PVC producer Vinnolit (www.vinnolit.com), Ismaning, and has a minority stake in another German PVC producer, Vestolit (www.vestolit.de), Marl.