Akzo Nobel Rejects €12.5 Billion Offer From Nippon Paint (1)

Akzo Nobel NV has rejected a cash offer from Japanese peer Nippon Paint and US paintmaker Sherwin-Williams Co. that would break up the business, and will press on with plans to merge with US firm Axalta Coating Systems Ltd.

The all-cash offer of €73 ($85) a share is 39% higher than Tuesday’s closing price, and would value the company at €12.5 billion. Akzo Nobel jumped as much as 17% in early Amsterdam trading, the most in more than six years to a market valuation of about €10.4 billion.

Nippon Paint and Sherwin-Williams made the initial approach last month, Akzo said ...