A month prior to announcing that they had hired investment firm Goldman Sachs to “assist in the review of strategic alternatives” for their architectural coatings division PPG announced that they had engaged Morgan Stanley and assigned the investment firm a similar task.
To “assist in the review of strategic alternatives” for the company’s silica products division.
PPG was undertaking the review “to ensure (the division’s) continued success,” according to chief executive Tim Knavish, using wording identical to statements he would make when announcing his plans for the architectural coatings division just one month later.
Last week PPG announced an agreement to sell its silica division to QEMETICA S.A. of Poland, the transaction giving Knavish an opportunity to thank the divisions 400 employees for their service.
Though the CEO failed to mention any protections they’d been given, likely because there were none!.
Knavish stated that the sale transpired after an “extensive strategic review process,” which seems unlikely–unless if by strategic review he meant identifying prospective buyers and negotiating the terms.
THE only actions PPG has taken in their “review” of either division.
No matter, Knavish termed the deal a “definitive agreement” calling no backsies on those 400 employees ensuring that if any of them are adversely affected by this transaction, he’ll be far enough away not to give a shit.
Paint division’s next!
If you ‘re an employee impacted by this transaction and have a first person perspective you’d like to share I’d love to talk, you begin that First Amendment protected conversation here.
The Top Nine?
Earlier this summer Coatings World Magazine released their list of Thought Leaders in the Paint and Coatings Industry, the voices “all coatings professionals should be listening to” according to the magazine.
A worthwhile accounting, though they missed the one voice (nearly) everybody already is listening to!
THE list recognized nine individuals who actively participated in the coatings industry providing expertise through their technical presentations or by providing “thoughtful and meaningful social media content.”
They couldn’t find one more blogger to make a top ten and allow paint to nominally meet that list making standard?
To find one more thought leader Coatings World could spend hours researching content beyond that created by this auspicious nine. An effort certain to yield one additional thought leader who could round out the top ten.
Putting paint on par with stupid pet and stupid human tricks!
The publication could also interview industry executives asking where they go to find thought provoking content? An effort which hardly seems likely, relegating paint to forever be a top nine industry.
One short of list respectablity.
But if Coatings World were to ask each of these nine who influences them surely one name would appear often enough to be included on the list. Arguably in the top spot considering how that data would have been collected.
THE influencer’s influencer and muse of all thoughts paint.
Coatings World could make their task even easier by not polling any influencers following me, dramatically trimming the work necessary to complete the task.
But sharing the names of my followers is a line I won’t cross, not even to help our industry shed the shame of its top nine status.
Meaning I’ll have to do it myself, which seems fitting considering THE pedigree.
Any extra work though conflicts the semi-retired vibe and so despite the upside I don’t think I’ll bother. Anyway, were I to reach this lone outlier I wouldn't ask who they followed but more likely "how'd you miss me?" after all these years or maybe even "Yo wtf?"
And the only person who owes me answers to those questions is editor at Coatings World!
