Axalta Completes Acquisition of Valspar’s North American Industrial Wood Coatings Business

Axalta Coating Systems has completed its previously announced acquisition of The Valspar Corporation’s North American Industrial Wood Coatings business. Valspar divested the business in connection with the antitrust approval of its acquisition by The Sherwin-Williams Company.

The purchase price for the transaction is $420 million, subject to certain adjustments set forth in the Asset Purchase Agreement. The acquired business had net sales of approximately $225 million in 2016. Axalta expects the transaction to be accretive to earnings in the first full year, but less accretive to near-term results including the anticipated integration costs to be incurred largely in 2017.

The North American Industrial Wood Coatings business is one of the leading providers of coatings for OEMs and distributors engaged in industrial wood markets, including building products, cabinets, flooring and furniture, in North America. The strong brands of the business, which include Zenith, Ultraguard, Lifeshield and Color Choice, will join Axalta’s portfolio of Performance Coatings products and services.

A shared commitment to customer care, technical service and support, as well as a keen focus on innovation in advancing the technology of wood coatings will provide a strong platform for future growth in this important industrial coatings market. The business consists of manufacturing facilities and offices in High Point, North Carolina and Cornwall, Ontario, an R&D organization with locations in High Point and Minneapolis, Minnesota, and sales representatives located throughout the U.S. and Canada.