Dow's $15.3 billion takeover of specialty chemicals company R&H had been clouded with uncertainty since the collapse of a planned Dow joint venture in December.

Shares of Rohm and Haas tumbled 17 percent in premarket trade to $54.50 after having closed Friday at $65.82.

Kuwait scrapped plans last month for a $17.4 billion joint venture with Dow. Proceeds from that venture were to be used by Dow to help fund the R&H deal.

Last summer Dow agreed to buy Rohm and Haas for $78 a share -- a 74 percent premium -- to broaden its product offerings in higher-margin markets such as paints, coatings and electronic materials.

(Reporting by Euan Rocha; editing by John Wallace)