AkzoNobel

AkzoNobel has agreed to sell its Southeast Asia paints business to Japan's Nippon Paint in a deal valued at $1.35 billion. The transaction covers the Dutch coatings company's decorative paints operations across the region. The move reflects ongoing consolidation in the global paints and coatings industry, as larger players acquire regional assets to expand their market reach.

The coatings and chemicals sector's weekly news cycle was led by BASF and AkzoNobel, with both companies topping the week's most-read stories. The recap rounds up the main developments affecting the two chemical giants and the broader coatings industry, giving professionals a snapshot of the week's key corporate and market news.