Stock Movers Akzo Nobel Slides, Rheinmetall Gains, ICG Up
Nov 18, 2025
Chloe Mellie, a Bloomberg reporter known for her sharp market insights, discusses the significant acquisition of Axalta by Akzo Nobel valued at €7.9 billion, highlighting market reactions and shareholder concerns. She dives into Rheinmetall's ambitious goal of €50 billion in sales by 2030, fueled by increasing defense budgets. Chloe also covers Amundi's acquisition of a stake in ICG, which promises to expand access to unlisted assets, reflecting the growing demand in alternative investments.
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Price, Not Rationale, Spooked Shareholders
- Akzo Nobel's takeover of Axalta values the target at about €7.9 billion and faces investor skepticism over price.
- The 52% premium and suspended buybacks explain the share drop despite strategic consolidation benefits.
Sector Weakness Raises Deal Execution Risk
- Axalta's weak outlook and lower customer spending make cost synergies crucial for the deal to work.
- Parts of Axalta's business tie into auto manufacturing, so sector weakness raises integration risk.
Ambitious Targets Underpin Defence Rally
- Rheinmetall set a bold target of roughly €50 billion sales by 2030, which underpins investor confidence in its growth story.
- The defence rally's next leg depends on governments turning spending commitments into actual sales and profits.