|
The Sherwin-Williams Company has sealed a deal to acquire historic Leighs Paints, the UK’s leading independent manufacturer of protective, marine and fire protection coatings.
Leighs’ well-known high-performance product portfolio, distributed across 47 countries worldwide, includes primers, lining systems, intermediate and finish coats, and Passive Fire Protection (PFP) intumescent products for both the hydrocarbon and cellulosic markets.
 |
|
Leighs Paints |
| Leighs Paints’ FIRETEX intumescent coatings have been used on steel structures and superstructures worldwide. |
Leighs Paints’ FIRETEX brand has been used on more than 400 projects around the world, protecting off-shore platforms, refineries, chemical plants, airports and hospitals. The company’s other brands include Leighs, DuraGlass, Epigrip, PolySpeed, Metagard, Resistex, Biogard and Metagrip.
Sales and purchase price were not disclosed.
2 Companies, 3 Centuries
Leighs was founded in 1860—six years before Sherwin-Williams—and has been owned by the Leigh family for most of that time. Its recent high-profile projects include coatings for the Forth Rail Bridge, the new Heathrow Terminal 5 building, and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s Wave Knight.
“We are very pleased to bring Leighs Paints, a well-respected company, and their employees into the Sherwin-Williams family,” said Chris Connor, Sherwin-Williams’ chairman and CEO. “Combined, our two companies have nearly three centuries of experience in coatings innovation.
 |
|
© Neil Armstrong / Creative Commons Licence |
| Leighs Paints were used on the most storied painting job of all time: the Forth Rail Bridge. |
“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 strategic commitment to growing globally.”
Leighs Paints has 260 employees and operates one manufacturing facility, with sales and technical support centers in the UK, Germany, Canada, India, and UAE.
Leighs Paints chairman Brian Leigh-Bramwell said, “This outstanding company has been a part of my family for the past 151 years. Sherwin-Williams shares many similarities with Leighs Paints both in terms of history, culture and customer focus. I am confident this decision will be of great benefit to both companies and our customers well into the future.”
George Heath, President of Sherwin-Williams Global Finishes Group, called the acquisition “another important step in our efforts to strengthen our growing global platform. In joining our Protective & Marine Coatings Division, Leighs Paints FIRETEX brand provides a new opportunity for Sherwin-Williams to better serve our customers around the world with outstanding technology, people, and assets.”
With 32,000 associates and $7.78 billion in sales, Cleveland-based Sherwin-Williams is the top paint and coatings company in the U.S. and No. 3 worldwide. The Global Finishes Group, which includes protective and marine coatings, distributes products in more than 100 countries.
|
Follow us on Twitter
Join us on Facebook
