U.S. conglomerate United Technologies Corp has offered to sell assets to secure EU regulatory approval for its $16.5 billion takeover of U.S. aircraft components maker Goodrich, a person familiar with the matter said.

The European Commission has been examining the deal, UTC’s biggest in a decade and with which it aims to build critical mass in new aircraft technology and plane services as civil aviation demand recovers.

UTC, whose products include Pratt & Whitney engines and Sikorsky helicopters and which is a top player in aircraft landing gear, has proposed divestments, said the source, who declined to provide detail because of the sensitivity of the matter.

The EC, which has set an Aug. 31 deadline for a decision on the deal, was expected to market test the proposed concessions with rivals and customers of UTC and Goodrich.

UTC, Goodrich and the European Commission could not be reached for comment.

Goodrich supplies parts to several UTC operations, including for Pratt & Whitney jet engines and its Hamilton Sundstrand’s aircraft electronics. Its commercial plane programmes include the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the Airbus A320neo.

UTC, which is also a leading maker of air conditioners and owns the Otis brand of elevators and escalators, has said it aimed to sell three smaller businesses -- its Rocketdyne space unit, Clipper Windpower and some industrial units at the Hamilton Sundstrand aircraft components operation -- to fund the Goodrich purchase.

EU regulators opened an investigation into the deal in March after an initial assessment showed competition concerns in the markets for engine controls and AC power generators, because of the combined group’s high market share.

The EU competition authorities also expressed concern about the loss of Goodrich as an independent supplier of fuel nozzles and engine controls, and as a player in aftermarket services.