AkzoNobel to divest German paint stores to sharpen distribution focus

AkzoNobel has announced its intention to divest its decorative paints stores for professionals in Germany to independent wholesale distributors.|

The move is intended to strengthen the performance of the company’s German Decorative Paints business by focusing its activities on the distribution and marketing of paint under brands such as Sikkens, Herbol and Consolan.
The company currently operates 72 German stores selling professional paint and third party products, with the Decorative Paints organisation employing around 950 people in Germany. In total, AkzoNobel’s Decorative Paints, Performance Coatings and Specialty Chemicals businesses have 3900 employees in Germany, along with 17 manufacturing plants and eight offices, generating revenue of close to €1.3bn in the country in 2012.

The company intends to enter into strategic partnership agreements with the future shop owners, as well as strengthening its relationship with its existing network of independent distributors.