BOLOGNA, Italy - Inver S.p.A., an Italian company specializing in industrial liquid and powder coatings, and AB Wilh. Becker, a paint and coatings manufacturer, have announced the agreement for Inver S.p.A. to acquire the European powder coatings businesses of AB Wilh. Becker.

 

Inver is acquiring Becker Powder Coatings’ (BPC) four European production plants located in France (Thouars), UK (Liverpool), Poland (Debica) and Italy (L’Aquila). The acquisition gives Inver a solid competitive platform and additional access to European powder coatings markets, characterized by high entry barriers. The Polish business will increase Inver’s presence in the emerging markets of Eastern Europe. Additionally, the specialization of BPC’s Italian plant in aluminum profiles for the architectural market will allow Inver to consolidate its position in this specialist market in Italy and Europe.

 

The acquisition will almost double the scale of Inver S.p.A.’s existing powder business. It will provide a platform for establishing a higher profile in the European industrial coatings market and will make Inver the fourth-largest producer in the European powder market.

 

The sale enables AB Wilh. Becker to focus its energy and resources on developing its positions in industrial coatings, wood coatings and artists’ materials.

 

Giovanni Domenichini, the CEO of Inver, stated, “This acquisition is perfectly in line with Inver’s strategy, demonstrating the strong desire to reach a European and international identity. Becker Powder Coatings has a very good fit with Inver, both in terms of European geographic sales coverage as well as product range and technology.”

 

Erik Urnes, the MD of AB Wilh. Becker, stated, “AB Wilh. Becker is pleased to have found a home for Becker Powder Coatings, which offers the business and its employees good possibilities for further development. The divestment is a part of the Beckers’ strategy to focus on our core business within industrial coatings, wood coatings and artist materials.”