Sherwin Willliams UK Coatings general manager David Wright has spoken of the company’s future plans following the US-based group’s acquisition of the Sayerlack coatings business of Arch Chemicals and the recent definitive agreement to buy Becker Acroma from AB Wilh Becker.
Sayerlack in the UK, now Sherwin-Williams UK Coatings Ltd, said this week that its business would be strengthened by the news and hopes the acquisition of Becker Acroma will be finalised in the third quarter.
Mr Wright told TTJ that the acquisition, subject to regulatory approval, combined with the Sayerlack business, would give Sherwin-Williams a leading position in the UK industrial wood finishes market.
“In France and the UK we (Becker and Sayerlack) are strong competitors,” said Mr Wright. “Our message to customers is it will be business as normal.”
He said Sherwin-Williams was acquiring two well-known and respected brands which it would build on and grow.
The deal, he added, would make Sherwin-Williams, which also owns the Ronseal brand, a leading force in the European coatings market, while it was already the world’s third largest paint and coatings company.
Mr Wright said the acquisition of Sayerlack from Arch Chemicals had given the group a strong foothold in Europe.
“Arch Chemicals was a good owner for the Sayerlack business but Arch was primarily one of the world’s best biocides companies. We were very well supported but definitely not core and for the good of the industrial wood business we needed to be part of a coatings company.”
Sherwin-Williams UK Coatings has experienced strong growth this year and is ahead of budget in terms of profitability.
