Pitches for the business, worth £1.3m in the UK, according to Nielsen Media Research, are taking place next week in Amsterdam. It is not known whether Universal McCann Manchester is repitching for the account.
Interpublic's Universal McCann Manchester, which previously worked for Akzo Nobel in Spain, won the consolidated European account in September 2003, wresting the UK Crown Paint account from Mediaedge:cia Manchester in the process.
The review comes as Akzo Nobel forges ahead with an $8bn (£3.9bn) takeover of rival chemicals giant ICI.
On 6 November, ICI shareholders voted 99% in favour of the takeover, which is expected to complete on 2 January, subject to approval by the European Commission.
On 5 November, Akzo Nobel shareholders voted 79% in favour of the takeover.
An Akzo Nobel spokesman declined to comment on the review. He said Akzo Nobel was investigating the rebranding of the company when it merges with ICI.
In September, WPP's MediaCom scooped the £30m pan-European media planning and buying account for ICI's paints division, after a three-way pitch against incumbents Initiative and OMD. That chunk of the business is unaffected by the Akzo Nobel review.
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