ICIPaints.com Archive
ICI to Buy Dulux from AECI of South Africa for £52 million
July 2007
ICI has reached an agreement to buy the Dulux business from South African corporation AECI for £52 million (R745 million) in cash. In addition to buying the Dulux assets in South Africa, ICI is acquiring AECI's shares in the Dulux subsidiaries in Botswana, Zambia, Swaziland, Malawi and Namibia.
Completion is expected in the second half of 2007, subject to approval by the regulatory authorities.
Dulux is one of the leading decorative paints brands in the growing South African market, where an expanding economy and a rapidly growing construction market have contributed to Dulux Pty.'s continuing sales growth. In the year ended 2006, Dulux Pty. sales grew 19% to £55.3 million (R774 million), trading profits were £5.0 million (R70 million), net assets were £17.8 million (R249 million) and the business employed 650 people, including 400 in South Africa.
Accelerating profitable growth is one of ICI's strategic objectives, announced in February 2007. As part of this, a key performance indicator for the Group is to grow its revenues in developing markets, which already account for around a third of ICI's sales, at an average of three times the rate of growth of global GDP.
ICI Chief Executive John McAdam said: "Dulux gives ICI a strong presence in southern Africa. We are delighted with this acquisition as it is absolutely consistent with our focus on fast growing developing markets"
Chronology of AECI and ICI's Dulux brand
Pre-1993:
AECI, through its subsidiary Dulux Pty., owns the Dulux brand in its southern Africa markets. ICI plc has a significant (38 per cent) interest in AECI.
1993/5:
ICI sells its interests in AECI.
2004:
ICI Paints re-establishes a licensing agreement with AECI covering technology and marketing, plus exports of some products.
2007:
ICI buys Dulux from AECI and reunites Dulux in Southern Africa with the global Dulux brand.
