AkzoNobel , Axalta gain conditional EU antitrust approval for $25 billion merger

By Foo Yun Chee

BRUSSELS, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Dulux paint maker Akzonobel and U.S. peer Axalta have secured EU approval for their $25 bln merger after agreeing to sell assets in Europe to address competition concerns, EU antitrust regulators said on Friday.

The companies announced the deal in November last year, part of a wave of consolidation in the sector which faces rising costs and uncertainties created by U.S. tariffs.

AkzoNobel will divest its vehicle refinish coatings business in Europe to address concerns about the merged company’s very strong market power that could lead to price hikes for repair garages and consumers, the European Commission, which is the EU competition authority, said.

Vehicle refinish coatings are the liquid paint used to repair dented or weathered cars.

"The commitments that AkzoNobel and Axalta offered in the context of their merger assure that companies in this market do not extract high margins from car repairs by increasing prices or lowering quality to the detriment of consumers who rely on their cars for their everyday life," EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera said in a statement.

The companies are required to find a buyer in the supply of coatings or an industrial player in a related industry.

Reuters reported last month that the deal would win EU clearance on condition that AkzoNobel sells its vehicle refinish business.

Axalta exclusively makes coatings, with a strong presence in the US market. Rivals to the companies include BASF’s coatings business, Nippon Paint, Sherwin-Williams and Kansai Nerolac.