Dutch company AKZO NOBEL (turnover of EUR 13 bn in 2003, 64,000 employees) is to take a 30% share one of the leading German decorative paint distributors, PETERS. The deal is on an exchange basis, whereby PETERS will acquire BEISSEL and KERSTIN, previously acquired by AKZO NOBEL. AKZO NOBEL will sell off part of its liquid coatings business in the agricultural and construction sectors (EUR 9 million turnover in 2003) to BASF. In a separate deal, it will acquire BASF's coatings business for joinery (EUR 17 million turnover in 2003). The financial details of these deals have not been disclosed.