AkzoNobel (Amsterdam, The Netherlands) is set to further strengthen its African footprint after reaching an agreement with Kansai Paint (Osaka, Japan) to acquire its paints and coatings activities in the region. Completion, which is subject to regulatory approvals, is expected during the course of 2023.
Present in 12 countries in Africa, Kansai Paint has regional consolidated revenue of around €280 million. The transaction includes the Plascon brand, which has more than 100 years of heritage in South Africa. Together with AkzoNobel’s Dulux brand, these are the longest-established paint brands in the region, according to a press release. The intended acquisition also includes automotive and protective coatings, as well as coatings for wood and coil.
“Acquiring Kansai Paint’s activities in the region will help us to further expand our paints and coatings business in Africa and provide a strong platform for future growth,” says Thierry Vanlancker, AkzoNobel CEO. “Kansai Paint shares our commitment to innovation and sustainability, and we look forward to combining our expertise, which will result in a wider range of innovative products and more sustainable solutions for our customers.”
“We are convinced that AkzoNobel is the best owner as AkzoNobel considers the decorative paints business as a core business and will therefore be able to unlock the full potential of the business, thereby contributing to the development of the African economy,” adds Kunishi Mori, Kansai Paint’s president.
The intended acquisition follows on from a series of recent acquisitions by AkzoNobel across paints and coatings over the last two years, including Titan Paints in Spain and Portugal; New Nautical Coatings in the United States; and, most recently, Grupo Orbis in Latin America.
Source: AkzoNobel, www.akzonobel.com.