Press release; Mergers: Commission approves proposed acquisition of ICI by Akzo Nobel subject to conditions

The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of Imperial Chemical Industries ('ICI') of the UK by Akzo Nobel of The Netherlands, subject to commitments to divest activities in the UK, Ireland and Belgium as well as a shareholding in the adhesives manufacturer Purbond AG. In view of the remedies proposed by the parties, the Commission concluded that the operation would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it.