“A final decision in the ongoing sale process is yet to be taken by Akzo NV, the Netherlands-based parent company,”  a person aware said. Powder coatings and the R&D units are to be sold back to the Dutch-parent. The India unit is listed on Indian stock exchanges.Owners of the Dulux brand, Akzo India has a near-8 per cent market share. The business review, first signaled last year, comes as Akzo NV, the parent company, seeks to streamline operations and boost efficiency amid global economic uncertainties. Based on the market cap of the Indian arm at the end of day’s trade on May 15, the parent’s stake is valued at around ₹11,854 crore.The India business of Akzo has a market capitalisation of ₹15000 crore-odd; which includes some verticals like powder coating that wouldn’t be included in the sale. Published on May 15, 2025 AkzoNobel India in FY25 reported a revenue from operations of ₹4,091.2 crore, up by 3 per cent, EBIT from operations flat at ₹551.8 crore; double digit profitability sustained at 13.5 per cent and PAT flat at ₹428.6 crore.The fight for Akzo Nobel’s India business has now boiled down to just two players – JSW Paints and Indigo Paints – with Pidilite not putting in bids, sources said. Amongst the two, JSW Paints is said to be a frontrunner, those aware of the discussions revealed. Earlier this year, the unit here acquired the Dulux brand’s intellectual property rights for India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh for ₹1,152 crore. Concurrently, it sold its powder coatings business to the parent company for ₹2,073 crore and its R&D vertical for ₹70 crore. The net proceeds of ₹991 crore will cover tax obligations from the sales and fund dividends to shareholders. Hemant Jalan’s Indigo Paints, backed by private equity major Advent International, was not immediately available for comments. The deal is expected to be valued at ₹10,000-12,000 crore, it is being said, with the winner picking up decorative and industrial coatings. Pidilite reportedly was eyeing only the decorative business.

businessline had previously reported that JSW Paints, Indigo Paints (backed by PE firm Advent) and possibly Pidilite are the ones in fray. Two binding bids had been placed by April. AkzoNobel India, the fourth player by market size, after Asian Paints, Berger and Kansai Nerolac, is centred on decorative paints for homes and commercial spaces, operates as a largely self-contained unit, insulated from global supply chain disruptions. The local business of AkzoNobel includes the decorative paints segment as well as the industrial paints segment and the firm’s stock price has rallied by 35.79 per cent in the last year.AkzoNobel India & JSW Group did not respond to queries by businessline. Pidilite has not commented on a previous questionnaire sent by the paper.

With rural areas outperforming urban areas, has Kia India’s sales seen a demand uptick? What percentage of the company’s sales are from rural areas?
Yes, we anticipate the price gap between petrol/diesel vehicles, and electric vehicles will continue to narrow as battery prices fall. We are still finalising the EV pricing details; we will share the same on the launch.
With the new launches, will Kia India ramp up capacity?
We are focusing on expanding into smaller markets, as they offer stronger growth potential compared to larger towns, which are becoming stagnant. Currently, we have around 490 showrooms and aim to reach 500 by year-end. Additionally, we plan to broaden our presence from 300 cities to about 350 cities, significantly increasing our market footprint this year. Kia India, which boasts 10-12 per cent of its sales from the rural markets is expanding its reach among rural customers. The car maker, which recently launched the spacious Carens Clavis, is expecting a 6 per cent overall growth in CY25. businessline spoke to Hardeep Singh Brar, National Head of Marketing & Sales, Kia India, on the growth plans, introduction of its electric vehicle, rural growth and increase in exports. Edited excerpts:
When will Kia launch the Clavis EV, a mass market EV?

Companies across sectors have pointed to a slowdown in urban areas. How do you see the Indian automobile market in CY25?
Yes, there’s an urban slowdown. Rural markets are growing faster, partly because urban infrastructure (like roads) isn’t keeping pace. We expect the industry to grow 2–3 per cent this year. Growth in the first four months has been 3 per cent, and we expect this to continue.
What will be the growth projection for Kia India in CY25?

What is the plan to ramp up presence?
There was uncertainty when tariffs were announced, but they’re paused for 90 days. India is in a better position compared to the rest of the world, especially compared to China. Inflation is under control, rate cuts (0.5 per cent) are positive, and tax rationalisation in the last Budget is another positive. Layoffs seem to be behind, but hiring hasn’t picked up yet. Moreover, rural demand is strong, and a good monsoon is expected, making the outlook positive. This year, we aim to sell 300,000 units domestically and 25,000–30,000 units for exports. Our current facility can handle up to 400,000 units, ensuring sufficient capacity to meet both domestic and international demand without strain.Last year, we sold nearly 2,50,000 units. This year, we plan to reach about 300,000 units, targeting roughly 6 per cent growth. Additionally, we aim to increase our market share by 1 per cent, bringing it to approximately 7 per cent by year-end.
What consequences do you see for the Indian automobile industry with tariffs and geopolitical tensions?
Rural markets account for about 10-12 per cent of our sales, with the majority (85-90 per cent) coming from urban areas. However, we are gradually expanding into rural areas as more rural customers aspire to own larger vehicles, like SUVs. This growing interest in bigger cars presents a promising opportunity for us to tap into and increase our presence in these markets.The Indian automobile industry is seeing a rising demand for SUVs. The desire to own bigger cars has caught on in rural areas as well. This has resulted in a slew of SUV launches. We currently export to 100 countries and have a strong presence. We plan to strengthen its position further, especially in right-hand-drive markets.

“The government of India has declared a Pakistani official, working at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, persona non grata for indulging in activities not in keeping with his official status in India,” the MEA said.The Punjab Police on Sunday said it arrested two persons, including a woman, for their alleged involvement in espionage activities linked to a Pakistani official posted at the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi.Hours after India’s action, Pakistan’s foreign office said it declared an Indian staffer at India’s mission in Islamabad as a “persona non grata” on charges of espionage.”The official has been asked to leave India within 24 hours. Charge d’Affaires, Pakistan High Commission, was issued a demarche to this effect today,” it said.The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the official was indulging in activities not in keeping with his official status in India and that he had been given 24 hours to leave the country.Published on May 14, 2025 Based on credible intelligence, a suspect was arrested for leaking sensitive information to a Pakistan-based handler regarding Indian Army movements, Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav had said.It said the official and his family members had been asked to leave Pakistan in 24 hours.Though the MEA did not divulge the specific charges against the Pakistani national, it is learnt that they are related to a case of espionage being probed by the Punjab Police. India on Tuesday expelled a Pakistani official working at the Pakistan High Commission for allegedly indulging in espionage.

The actions came amid heightened tensions between the two countries following their four-day military confrontation.The development came days after the Amritsar Rural police arrested two persons — Falaksher Masih and Suraj Masih — for their alleged role in leaking sensitive information and photographs of army cantonment areas and air bases to Pakistan’s intelligence agency, according local officials.

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Yadav had said the accused were receiving payments through online transactions in exchange for sharing classified information.