Key facts
- AkzoNobel will divest its European vehicle refinish coatings business to secure EU approval.
- The European Commission said the merged company's market power could lead to price hikes for repair garages and consumers.
- EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera said the commitments assure companies do not extract high margins from car repairs.
- The companies must find a buyer in the supply of coatings or an industrial player in a related industry.
The European Commission approved the $25 billion merger of AkzoNobel and Axalta on November 6, 2026, after the companies agreed to sell assets in Europe to address competition concerns, the EU antitrust regulators said on Friday.
The companies announced the deal in November 2025, 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.