European Commission Approves AkzoNobel and Axalta $25 Billion Merger

The European Commission has granted conditional antitrust approval for the $25 billion merger between AkzoNobel and Axalta. To secure the clearance, AkzoNobel agreed to divest its vehicle refinish coatings business within Europe to prevent the combined entity from exercising excessive market power over repair garages and consumers.

EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera stated that the commitments offered by the companies ensure that firms in the market do not extract high margins from car repairs by increasing prices or lowering quality. The merger, first announced in November 2025, follows a trend of industry consolidation sparked by rising operational costs and uncertainty regarding United States tariffs.

To finalize the deal, the companies must now identify a suitable buyer for the divested assets from within the coatings supply chain or a related industrial sector.