The Protech Chemicals Group (Montreal, Quebec) has announced the acquisition of Oxyplast NV (Ghent, Belgium), a pioneer in the production of powder coatings. The company has more than 20 licensees worldwide. "We are very pleased to join the Protech family," says Hans Jacobs, Oxyplast's managing director. "Protech's commitment to the Oxyplast brand ensures continuity for our customers, employees and licensees."

"Protech has had a long friendship with Oxyplast and its founders," says David Ades, managing partner of Protech. "The two companies have complimentary capabilities in technology, manufacturing and marketing." Protech has four manufacturing facilities.

Consorcio Comex S.A. de C.V. (Mexico City) will acquire Professional Paint Inc., the operator of a group of regional architectural-coatings companies in the western United States and Canada, under a merger agreement announced by Colorado-based Professional Paint.