Deadline for Dulux bid

THE American predator trying to take over Dulux has until midnight to make its intentions known.

PPG must make an offer for Dulux parent company Akzo Nobel today or face a six- month cooling- off period, under Dutch takeover laws.

PPG, which had asked for the deadline to be delayed until June 14, had its request rejected on Tuesday. It has seen its £22.5bn offer rebuffed and yesterday rumours swirled that it would mount a hostile takeover bid.

If PPG decides not to pursue its offer, the future of 3,300 Akzo workers in Slough and the East Midlands would be secure.