Inver S.p.A., the Italian company specialized in industrial liquid and powder coatings, and AB Wilh Becker, one of the leading paint and coatings manufacturers in the world announced the agreement for Inver S.p.A. to acquire the European powder coatings businesses of AB Wilh. Becker. Inver is acquiring Becker Powder Coatings' ("BPC") four European production plants located in France (Thouars), UK (Liverpool), Poland (Debica) and Italy (L'Aquila). BPC's French and UK businesses are the top three and top five in their respective markets and this strong position gives Inver the ability to achieve a solid competitive platform and to further penetrate these attractive European powder coatings markets, characterized by high entry barriers ...more

PPG Industries Inc. said Wednesday it has completed the $330 million sale of its automotive glass and services business. The Pittsburgh-based paint and chemical maker sold the business to Pittsburgh Glass Works LLC, a company formed by funds managed by Mount Kisco, New York, USA-based Kohlberg & Co. LLC. PPG said it received proceeds of about $270 million from the deal. Charles E. Bunch, PPG's chairman and chief executive officer, said the transaction, which was announced in July, will help the company focus on coatings and specialty businesses. PPG tried last year to sell the auto glass and services business to Beverly Hills, California-based Platinum Equity. The deal fell through ...more

RPM International yesterday reported that it has changed its outlook for its fiscal 2009 earnings to $1.75 to $1.85 per share, down from prior guidance of approximately $1.85 per share. The announcement was made by Frank C. Sullivan, the company's president and chief executive officer, during a presentation at the Oppenheimer & Co. Third Annual Industrials Conference. He cited current economic headwinds, sustained volatility in financial markets, weak domestic market conditions for its consumer segment and raw material cost pressure in both segments as the principal reasons behind the revised outlook ...more

Where we continue, we look at a new coating technology with its origins in the US military complex, and a anti-graffiti coating being used for the first time in Canada. To continue, please follow this link ...click here

In other news on the site, BASF published an offer for Ciba shareholders and for what its worth, the US FTC ended the waiting period on the Huntsman/Hexion merger, which still looks to be off the rails. Altana closed on US Bronze Powders and AkzoNobel presented its Science Award. There铮? much more news, so please follow this link to go there ...more

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Mark Drukenbrod
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