The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) achieved a significant victory in its efforts to reduce housing construction material costs by preventing Henkel AG & Co. KGaA from acquiring Liquid Nails, a key competitor to its Loctite brand.

On August 14, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York granted a permanent injunction against Henkel's proposed $725 million acquisition of Liquid Nails from American Industrial Partners. This ruling reflects the FTC's new strategy of seeking permanent injunctions to block anticompetitive mergers without relying on lengthy administrative proceedings.

The FTC initially challenged the merger in December 2025, arguing that the acquisition would eliminate vital competition between Loctite and Liquid Nails, resulting in higher prices, lower quality, and reduced innovation for consumers.

In response to the court's decision, FTC Bureau of Competition Director Daniel Guarnera emphasized the importance of maintaining competition in the construction adhesive market, stating that the merger would have negatively impacted American consumers by increasing costs for essential building materials.

Guarnera praised the FTC's trial team for their efforts in this case, highlighting the agency's commitment to enforcing antitrust laws to help lower housing costs for Americans.