565 jobs saved by Crown Paints buy-out

Source: Manufacturing Digital

Date :20/08/2008 10:08:56

Lancashire-based Crown Paints Ltd is today, August 20, breathing a sigh of relief after yesterday’s buy-out by Endless LLP.

The brand has been facing an uncertain future since December 2007, after its parent company, Dutch-based Akzo Nobel, also acquired Dulux paints. Under European Commission regulations Akzo Nobel had to sell Crown to avoid having a monopoly.

Crown Paints produces Sandtex, Sadolin, Macpherson and Berger brands. The company has been based in Darwen, East Lancashire for over 100 years and recently signed a £5million sponsorship deal with local team the Blackburn Rovers.

The £70 million deal with Endless has saved them from the relocation and job-losses associated with a possible foreign buy-out.

“It is good to get to the point where we can provide positive reassurance to people” said Chief Executive Howard Luft. “This is excellent news for the business and excellent news for Darwen – and all our employees.”

Today, the Azko Nobel logo was being removed from the site and being replaced with the Crown Paints logo once again.