IP/10/457
Brussels, 21 April 2010
Mergers: Commission approves acquisition of Rohm and Haas powder coating business by AkzoNobel
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of the Rohm and Haas powder coating business of the US by AkzoNobel N.V. of The Netherlands. The Commission concluded that the proposed transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it.
AkzoNobel is a global undertaking that produces and markets a wide range of paints, performance coatings and specialty chemicals in more than 80 countries worldwide. The coating products of AkzoNobel include both liquid and powder coatings.
The powder coatings business of Rohm and Haas, which is currently part of The Dow Chemical Company of the US is engaged in the research, development, production, marketing and sale of powder coatings.
The merging parties' activities overlap with respect to powder coatings only.
Powder coatings are typically applied to a wide range of metal objects such as motor vehicle components (engine parts, springs, wheels etc), domestic appliances (washing machines and dishwashers) and aluminium extrusions used in the construction industry.
The Commission's investigation confirmed that, even though the proposed transaction would strengthen AkzoNobel's market-leading position in powder coatings, a large number of alternative suppliers would remain in the market which are not constrained either in terms of capacity or access to key raw materials.
The Commission therefore concluded that the proposed concentration would not raise competition concerns.
The transaction was notified to the Commission on 12 March 2010.
More information on the case will be available at:
http://ec.europa.eu/competition/elojade/isef/case_details.cfm?proc_code=2_M_5745
