Frank C. Sullivan, RPM chairman and chief executive officer

It is quite an event in the nail polish industry. In the context of a booming nail care market, one of the world’s leading manufacturers, the US-based Kirker Enterprises, has just fallen into the hands of RPM International, a holding which was mainly used to operate in the construction industry.

Based in Paterson, New Jersey, Kirker has annual sales in excess of US$100 million. Founded more than fifty years ago, the company runs manufacturing facilities in Europe and in the United States. The company supplies several of the most famous brands and also offers full service options for the creation enamel lines.

This acquisition is a very first foray in the cosmetics industry for RPM International, a group of companies specialising in corrosion control and flooring coatings, roofing systems, sealants and specialty chemicals, primarily for building maintenance and improvement.

"Kirker will operate as a stand-alone company within our RPM business group and continue to provide its customers the same level of outstanding service and innovation to which they are accustomed. Through our many companies, RPM has among the broadest coatings technologies in the world, and Kirker will be able to access these technologies to bring even more innovation to the personal care industry," stated Frank C. Sullivan, RPM chairman and chief executive officer. "We’re proud to have Kirker’s management team join RPM."

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.