Sherwin-Williams Permitted to Acquire Valspar

The proposed acquisition between two global paint coating companies, Sherwin-Williams and Valspar, was recently given the go-ahead by the Competition Bureau, after a consent agreement was reached between the Bureau and Sherwin-Williams. Initially, the Bureau had determined that the proposed acquisition would likely result in a substantial lessening of competition in the industrial wood coating industry. To address these concerns, Sherwin-Willaims is required under the consent agreement to sell Valspar’s assets related to industrial wood coatings in Canada and the U.S. to Axalta Coating Systems Ltd., a new entrant based in Pennsylvania.