The Carlyle Group, a global alternative asset manager, and DuPont have signed an agreement whereby Carlyle will purchase DuPont Performance Coatings (DPC) for $4.9 billion in cash.

The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter 2013.

DPC is a global supplier of vehicle and industrial coating systems with 2012 expected sales of more than $4 billion and more than 11,000 employees. The investment will be funded with equity from Carlyle Partners V and Carlyle Europe Partners III.

“DuPont Performance Coatings is a leader in the automotive and industrial coatings sectors with world-class products and customer service. The business continues to grow and deliver solid results. After a careful review, however, we have determined that DPC’s full growth potential would be best realized outside DuPont and through the sale to Carlyle,” said DuPont Chair and CEO Ellen Kullman.

“This transaction is consistent with our vision to be the world’s most dynamic science company and long-term strategy of driving competitive advantages in agriculture and nutrition, advanced materials and biotechnology, which represent high-growth, high-margin opportunities.”

Greg Ledford, Carlyle managing director and head of the Industrial and Transportation team, said, “DuPont Performance Coatings is a successful business with attractive market positions, next-generation technology and established brands.”

“Through targeted investments we will support DPC’s product development and growth objectives as it transitions to a stand-alone company. We look forward to working with management to fully realize DPC’s great potential.”

Gregor Böhm, managing director and co-head of Carlyle’s Europe Buyout team, said, “DuPont Performance Coatings is a technology innovator and we look forward to building on its strong market presence to accelerate growth in emerging markets, particularly in China and Brazil.”

Kullman stressed that DuPont remains committed to serving the automotive industry. Following the closing of this transaction, DuPont will generate more than $3 billion in sales of advanced materials to the auto industry.

“We will continue to work closely with automotive customers to apply our science-powered innovations related to light weighting of vehicles, revolutionary and environmentally friendly refrigerants, biobased seat fabrics and headliners, and next-generation biofuels,” Kullman said.

Beginning with the third quarter 2012, DuPont will classify and report results of DPC as discontinued operations on a retroactive basis.

DuPont expects 2012 full-year earnings from discontinued operations to be in the range of $.41 to $.47 per share. Full-year 2012 guidance was last updated on and as of July 24, 2012, and is not being updated today. The company will begin providing full-year 2012 guidance from continuing operations when it issues its third quarter earnings announcement on Oct. 23.

DuPont plans to eliminate general corporate overhead costs that were previously allocated to DPC but are not part of the transaction. Additional details will be provided during DuPont’s third quarter earnings announcement.

As part of the transaction, Carlyle will assume $250 million of DuPont’s unfunded pension liabilities. DuPont will use the net after-tax proceeds of this sale in a manner consistent with its cash deployment principles and goal to maximize shareholder value creation. – TradeArabia News Service