Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - PPG Industries Australia Pty Ltd is to buy Barloworld Coatings Australia, the architectural paint unit of South African-based Barloworld Ltd. The deal needs regulatory approvals and other closing conditions apply. Terms were not disclosed.Barloworld Coatings Australia is a leading Australian architectural and decorative paint manufacturer, making Taubmans, Bristol and White Knight brands of architectural coatings. Parent group Barloworld is a multinational industrial brand management company. Barloworld Coatings Australia has two plants in Villawood, New South Wales, and Glen Waverley, Victoria, and distributes products through its 85 stores, a distributor network and independent dealers. PPG is not buying the Glen Waverley unit, which will continue to make branded products for PPG until its activities are transferred to other locations. The business employs about 750 people.Pittsburgh-headquartered PPG claims its Australia unit is a market leader in automotive, industrial, protective and marine coatings, with plants in Clayton, Victoria, and Adelaide, South Australia, employing more than 800 people in Australia. Adding the Barloworld unit will make PPG the largest coatings manufacturer in Australia, the company added."We are continuing to accelerate our profitable growth in coatings by making strategic acquisitions," said Rich Alexander, senior vice president, coatings. "By acquiring Barloworld's Australian coatings business, we'll be well-positioned to be the leading coatings manufacturer operating in all market segments and channels in Australia."In 2006, PPG added automotive refinish coatings and light industrial and high-performance coatings by buying Australian company Protec Pty Ltd of Adelaide, and also bought the Performance Coatings and Finishes business of Ameron International Corp., Pasadena, California, with operations in Australia and New Zealand."
