Since 2007, Paul Dokter has been the owner of NelfKoopmans, that first saw the light of day in 1916, under the name Nederlandsche Elektrische Lakfabriek. Retaining its name, location and identity, NelfKoopmans joins PearlPaint Group as an independent business. Both companies will thus benefit from a wider and deeper product and service range. Paul Dokter will remain actively involved in the company after the transaction.

NelfKoopmans is one of the largest independent producers in the paint industry and is known for its quality, capacity and proven track record. “Under Paul Dokter’s management, the business evolved considerably in the past years,” Ralph Meijer observes. From our Drachten office, he advised the transaction, together with Laurens Heideman and Bas Visser. “The facility in Marrum is fully climate neutral and offers ample room for expansion.”

Meeting potential buyers

The fact that the iconic company located near the Wadden Sea attracted a great deal of attention, came as no surprise. “But before actually meeting potential buyers, we carefully worked towards the right moment to go to the market,” Ralph Meijer tells. “In the end, we had many options to choose from: investors and strategic buyers from the Netherlands and abroad, giving Paul the opportunity to cast his net wide and carefully consider his options. At that point, it comes down to a gut instinct about a potential buyer, and that led him to PearlPaint Group and its shareholder Citadel Groep (investment company of Frits Kroymans).”

There is good strategic fit between Pearl Paints and Nelfkoopmans, offering many synergy benefits. From this combination, a strong party in the Dutch paint industry has emerged.

Make a valuable contribution

To both NelfKoopmans and PearlPaint Group, the transaction means achieving new growth ambitions, in which Paul Dokter will continue to be involved. “With my network in the market, my expertise and experience, I want to make a valuable contribution to the continued development of PearlPaint Group. I have every confidence that our customers and users will benefit from our wider and deeper product range, intensified product development and the further professionalisation of our joint offering. I’m more than happy with the final result and I’m looking back on a professional and smooth process, during which Marktlink protected my interests excellently.”