AkzoNobel and Axalta Merger Receives EU Conditional Approval

AkzoNobel and Axalta have received conditional approval from the European Commission for their proposed all-stock merger of equals. The approval is subject to the divestment of AkzoNobel's European vehicle refinish business to address competition concerns. The merger is expected to close in early 2027, creating a global coatings company with approximately $17 billion in revenue and a comprehensive portfolio across various coatings segments. Both companies' CEOs expressed optimism about the milestone and the future combined entity's growth potential.