Illinois Tool Works will acquire Shells Pennzoil-Quaker State Car Care business, including wipers, chemicals and appearance products. Terms of the transaction, expected to close in early 2011, were not disclosed.
The business includes brands such as Rain-X, Black Magic and Gumout, among others.
SOPUS Products conducted a strategic review of its Car Care business earlier this year, a Shell spokesperson told Lube Report. The goal of the review was to evaluate our long-term opportunities and required resourcing for continued growth in the interior accessories, air care, wipers, chemicals and appearance categories.
Shells strategic review, announced May 14, covered the Car Care business in North America and Shell Car Care International, which sells to Europe, Australia, China, Japan and Russia. “The first outcome of that review was the sale of Auto Expressions to Kraco Enterprises, announced in June, the spokesperson continued. Auto Expressions is an automotive aftermarket accessories business.
When Pennzoil and Quaker State merged in 1998, Pennzoil contributed the Fix-a-Flat chemical tire inflator and Gumout performance chemicals businesses, while Quaker State provided Medo air fresheners, Slick 50 performance chemicals, and Black Magic, Blue Coral, Rain-X and Westleys products. PQS purchased Sagaz auto interior accessories in 2000, and all the businesses were acquired by Shell when it bought PQS in 2002.
Glenview, Ill.-based ITW is a multinational manufacturer of industrial products and equipment. Its subsidiarys automotive aftermarket-related products include Permatex adhesives and sealants, Wynns specialty chemicals and Slime tire sealants.