SHERWIN-WILLIAMS MAKES ANOTHER TRY
By Adnews Staff
Paint company Sherwin-Williams Co. of Cleveland, Ohio is attempting to take over a smaller competitor, Pratt & Lambert United. It has made a private deal to buy 40% of Pratt & Lambert's shares and has issued a public offer for the remaining 60%. The buy would expand Sherwin-Williams' presence in decorator stores, do-it-yourself outlets and Wal-Mart stores. Currently, Sherwin-Williams products are sold mainly in paint stores. North American advertising for Sherwin-Williams is done by Partners & Shevack of New York and Griswold Escheman of Cleveland. Gelia Wells & Moore of Buffalo handles it for Pratt & Lambert. Sherwin-Williams had sales of $2.53 billion(US) in the nine months ending Sept. 30. Pratt & Lambert has annual sales of about $500 million(US). This is the third buy Sherwin-Williams has attempted in the past two years. It tried unsuccessfully to acquire Rust-Oleum Corp. and Grow Group Inc.