Dunn-Edwards Corporation has announced a merger agreement with Nippon Paint Holdings Co., Ltd. The Osaka, Japan-based Nippon Paint will maintain the Dunn-Edwards brand and its premium range of paints. Nippon Paint is reported to be the world’s fourth largest paint company with $4.8 billion (U.S.) in sales. The merger with Dunn-Edwards provides Nippon Paint with a platform for growth throughout the United States.

“We will continue business as usual as Dunn-Edwards, producing our superior paint and maintaining our culture that we’ve embraced for 91 years,” said Karl Altergott, CEO of Dunn-Edwards. “Plus, we’ll have an influx of resources, new coatings technology, and an opportunity to grow with a financially strong global leader.”

Founded in Los Angeles, Dunn-Edwards operates 130 stores and more than 80 authorized dealers. The company produces its coatings in a LEED® Gold-certified manufacturing plant.

“We’ve wanted to expand our architectural paints in the U.S. and have been searching for the right partner,” stated Nippon Paint’s president and CEO, Tetsushi Tado. “It is important to us that Dunn-Edwards is the most environmentally responsible paint manufacturer, which fits with our mission.”

The 135-year-old Nippon Paint Holdings operates more than 30 manufacturing plants throughout Asia, and reports over one million tons of paint and coatings produced annually. It is known internationally for architectural paints as well as automotive, industrial, and marine coatings.