Sherwin-Williams Completes the Acquisition of Becker Acroma Industrial Wood Coatings

CLEVELAND, Sept. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Sherwin-Williams Company (NYSE: SHW) announced it has closed a definitive agreement to acquire Becker Industrial Products AB, a subsidiary of AB Wilh. Becker based in Sweden, which engages in the industrial wood coatings business.

Headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, Becker Acroma is one of the largest manufacturers of industrial wood coatings globally and a technology leader in water, UV, and other wood coatings.  Becker Acroma wood coatings serve the joinery, kitchen cabinet, furniture, and flooring markets directly and through distributors.  The Company has an outstanding reputation for innovative technology and quality products.

Becker Acroma has more than 900 employees and currently operates 9 manufacturing facilities, 19 mixing sites and 13 technical centers around the world. (Sweden, Italy, Germany, France, UK, Ireland, Belgium, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Russia, Lithuania, Belarus, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Canada, U.S.)  Sales in 2009 were approximately SEK 2.125 billion  (US$300 million).

Christopher M. Connor, Chairman and CEO of The Sherwin-Williams Company, said,  "We are pleased to bring Becker Acroma, a well-respected company, and their employees into the Sherwin-Williams family.  This is another positive step in our strategy of steady growth and expansion through quality products and people who provide excellent customer service. This acquisition reaffirms our commitment to growing globally through organic expansion, accelerated by appropriate acquisitions."

Jenny Linden Urnes, owner and chairman of AB Wilh. Becker, commented, "Becker Acroma and its committed employees around the world have been a very much appreciated part of Beckers, and I wish them the best of luck in the future.  We know Sherwin-Williams well, and I am confident that joining the Sherwin-Williams family will be good for Becker Acroma's employees, customers, and other stakeholders."

George E. Heath, President of Sherwin-Williams Global Finishes Group, stated, "The acquisition of Becker Acroma is another important step in our efforts to strengthen our growing global platform to better serve our customers around the world with outstanding assets, technology, and people."

Sherwin-Williams acquired Becker Acroma for SEK 1.7 billion (US$227 million).  It will be part of the Company's growing Global Finishes Group following the acquisitions of Sayerlack (2010), Inchem (2008) and Becker Powder Coatings U.S. (2008)

Kaj Brandt, CEO of Becker Acroma Industrial Wood Coatings said, "We are excited to join the Sherwin-Williams family and to contribute to the company's success across the globe. We have respected Sherwin-Williams for years, and are delighted to now be a partner."

Sherwin-Williams Global Finishes Group

The Sherwin-Williams Global Finishes Group is a leading supplier of advanced technology liquid and powder product finishes for the world OEM market through 15 manufacturing and 79 facility locations across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Europe and China. For more information, visit www.sherwin.com/oem.

The Sherwin-Williams Company

Founded in 1866, The Sherwin-Williams Company is a global leader in the manufacture, development, distribution, and sale of coatings and related products to professional, industrial, commercial, and retail customers.

The company manufactures products under well-known brands such as Sherwin-Williams®, Dutch Boy®, Krylon®, Minwax®, Thompson's® WaterSeal® and many more.

With global headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio, Sherwin-Williams® branded products are sold exclusively through a chain of 3,354 company-operated stores and facilities, while the company's other brands are sold through leading mass merchandisers, home centers, independent paint dealers, hardware stores, automotive retailers, and industrial distributors.

The Sherwin-Williams Global Finishes Group distributes a wide range of products in more than 70 countries around the world. For more information, visit www.sherwin.com.

SOURCE Sherwin-Williams Company

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