The European Commission has cleared Henkel’s acquisition of Stahl Parent, concluding that the transaction would have only a limited impact on competition. Henkel had announced the deal in February, when it said it had reached an agreement with Stahl’s holding company on a purchase price of €2.1 billion.
Netherlands-based Stahl specialises in high-performance speciality coatings for flexible materials. Its products include coatings for leather as well as paper packaging and graphic applications, making the company an important supplier to a range of industrial markets. Stahl employs around 1,700 people and generated adjusted sales of approximately €725 million in the 2025 financial year. The acquisition will add Stahl’s speciality coatings activities to Henkel’s portfolio. The Düsseldorf-based group operates two main business units covering consumer brands and adhesive technologies.
Henkel, whose consumer brands include Persil and Schwarzkopf, employs around 50,000 people worldwide, including approximately 8,000 in Germany. The company reported sales of €20.5 billion in 2025.
