Valspar
An American paint and coatings brand founded in 1806 and owned by Sherwin-Williams since 2017.
Last updated August 21, 2026
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Overview
Valspar is an American paint and coatings business whose history reaches back to an 1806 paint dealership established by Samuel Tuck in Boston, Massachusetts. The enterprise passed through multiple ownership and corporate names during the nineteenth century before becoming associated with the Valentine family and its varnish manufacturing operations. The Valspar name originated in 1903 as the brand of a clear varnish developed by L. Valentine Pulsifer, a chemist and member of the Valentine family. Introduced commercially in the first decade of the twentieth century, the varnish was promoted as a finish that would not turn white and helped establish Valspar as a recognizable consumer brand. The business expanded from varnishes into a broader paint and coatings manufacturer serving architectural, industrial, transportation, packaging, wood-finishing, and other applications. In 1932, the Valspar Corporation was formed, while Valentine & Company continued as a subsidiary. The company grew through mergers and acquisitions, including the 1960 combination with Rockcote and the 1970 merger with Minnesota Paints, after which the headquarters moved to Minneapolis. During the 1980s and 1990s, Valspar accelerated its acquisition strategy, adding businesses such as Mobil’s coatings division, Enterprise Paint Companies, McCloskey Corporation, Hi-Tek Polymers, and parts of Cook Paint and Varnish Company. These transactions broadened its product portfolio and increased its manufacturing and distribution reach. Under Richard Rompala, who became president in 1994, chief executive in 1995, and chairman in 1998, Valspar pursued international expansion and entered or strengthened operations in markets including China, Hong Kong, Brazil, Mexico, and South Africa. The 2000 acquisition of Lilly Industries was one of the company’s largest transactions and significantly expanded its coatings activities, although antitrust requirements led to the divestiture of a mirror-coatings business. Valspar later added Samuel Cabot, known for wood stains and finishes, and the powder-coatings business of H.B. Fuller. Valspar remained a major standalone coatings company until Sherwin-Williams announced an agreement to acquire it in March 2016. The transaction was completed on June 1, 2017, in an all-cash deal valued at approximately $9.3 billion. Valspar consequently became a Sherwin-Williams subsidiary and brand rather than an independently listed corporation. Its name continues to be used for paint, stain, varnish, and specialty-coating products, with availability and product formulations varying by market and distribution channel. The brand’s present positioning combines its long heritage in decorative finishes with Sherwin-Williams’ broader manufacturing, retail, and professional-coatings infrastructure.
History
Valspar’s corporate history began in 1806, when Samuel Tuck established a Boston paint dealership called Paint and Color. During the following decades the business changed ownership and names several times. Separately, Lawson Valentine incorporated Valentine & Company in Boston in 1832 as a varnish manufacturer. The two business lines eventually came together under Stimson & Valentine. After Otis Merriam joined the ownership in 1855 and Henry Valentine joined in 1860, the company returned to the Valentine & Company name in 1866. Among its early technical employees was Charles Homer, a chemist and brother of artist Winslow Homer. Valentine & Company moved to New York City in 1870 and acquired Minnesota Linseed Oil Paint Company. It developed varnishes intended to compete with imported English finishes, particularly for vehicles and other demanding applications. The business later operated in several major American markets and expanded internationally. In 1903, L. Valentine Pulsifer joined the company after studying chemistry at Harvard. Following several years of development, he created a clear varnish that entered production by 1905 under the Valspar name. Its resistance to whitening and strong promotional campaign made Valspar the company’s principal product for more than three decades. The finish was associated with high-profile uses including polar exploration, military applications, and Charles Lindbergh’s 1927 transatlantic flight. The Valspar Corporation was created in 1932, with Valentine & Company retained as a subsidiary. A 1960 merger with Rockcote added manufacturing capacity in the American Midwest and moved the corporate center to Ardmore, Pennsylvania. Valspar pursued frequent acquisitions during the 1960s. In 1970, it merged with Minnesota Paints and relocated its headquarters to Minneapolis. The combination increased the company’s resources for further expansion and helped establish the Minneapolis-based organization known in later decades. Before the 1980s, Valspar was primarily consumer-oriented. Its acquisition of Mobil’s coatings division in 1984 effectively doubled revenue and strengthened its industrial business. Additional acquisitions followed, including Enterprise Paint Companies in 1987, McCloskey Corporation in 1989, and Hi-Tek Polymers and selected Cook Paint and Varnish operations in 1991. In the early 1990s, Valspar sought to acquire Cargill’s resin products division. Regulatory objections led to the business being divided between McWhorter Technologies and Engineered Polymer Solutions. Richard Rompala led a period of internationalization and acquisition-driven growth in the 1990s. Valspar expanded in Asia, Latin America, and other international markets, then acquired Lilly Industries in 2000 for approximately $1.04 billion. Antitrust requirements resulted in the sale of Lilly’s mirror-coatings business. The company subsequently faced restructuring costs, plant closures, higher raw-material costs, and increased debt service, ending a long period of consecutive earnings growth. The company continued to broaden its portfolio in the 2000s. It acquired Samuel Cabot in 2005, adding the Cabot wood-stain and finish business, and purchased H.B. Fuller’s powder-coatings business in December 2006. Valspar remained a large global paint and coatings manufacturer, with operations reported across 26 countries and a workforce exceeding 11,000 before its sale. In March 2016, Sherwin-Williams announced plans to purchase Valspar. Following regulatory and closing processes, the all-cash transaction was completed on June 1, 2017. Valspar thereafter operated within Sherwin-Williams, retaining its brand identity across selected consumer, professional, and industrial product categories. In the same year, a UK paint-formulation controversy generated extensive consumer complaints concerning a strong odor in certain interior paints sold through B&Q. Valspar acknowledged bacterial contamination as a contributing factor and introduced remediation and compensation measures. The episode remains one of the most notable quality-related controversies associated with the brand.
- 2017
Acquisition completed
[1]Sherwin-Williams completed the acquisition on June 1, making Valspar a subsidiary and brand within the group.
- 2016
Sherwin-Williams announces acquisition
[1]Sherwin-Williams announced an all-cash agreement to acquire Valspar for approximately $9.3 billion.
- 2006
H.B. Fuller powder-coatings business acquired
[1]Valspar expanded its powder-coatings operations through the acquisition of H.B. Fuller’s business.
- 2005
Samuel Cabot acquired
[1]The acquisition added Cabot’s interior and exterior wood stains and finishes.
- 2000
Lilly Industries acquired
[1]Valspar acquired Lilly Industries for approximately $1.04 billion and divested its mirror-coatings business to address antitrust requirements.
- 1984
Mobil coatings division acquired
[1]Valspar acquired Mobil’s coatings division, substantially increasing the scale of its business.
- 1970
Minnesota Paints merger and Minneapolis relocation
[1]Valspar merged with Minnesota Paints and moved its headquarters to Minneapolis.
- 1960
Rockcote merger
[1]A merger with Rockcote expanded manufacturing capacity and strengthened Valspar’s Midwestern presence.
- 1932
Valspar Corporation formed
[1]The Valspar Corporation was established, with Valentine & Company continuing as a subsidiary.
- 1905
Clear Valspar varnish enters production
[1]The clear varnish was placed into commercial production and became the company’s leading product.
Products and positioning
A heritage American coatings brand spanning consumer paints, wood finishes, and professional and industrial coating technologies, now supported by Sherwin-Williams.
Architectural coatings
Valspar Architectural Paint
Valspar’s architectural range covers decorative interior and exterior paints for residential and professional use. Depending on market, the portfolio includes wall finishes, trim coatings, primers, and specialty decorative products. These products represent the consumer-facing continuation of the company’s historic paint and varnish business.
Wood coatings · 2005
Valspar Wood Stains and Finishes
The wood-finishes portfolio includes stains and protective finishes for interior and exterior wood. Its development was strengthened by the 2005 acquisition of Samuel Cabot, whose established brand specialized in wood stains and related finishing products.
Industrial coatings
Valspar Industrial Coatings
Valspar industrial coatings serve manufacturers and other professional customers requiring protective, decorative, or performance-oriented finishes. The category grew substantially through acquisitions, including Mobil’s coatings division and Lilly Industries, and covers applications beyond ordinary household paint.
Powder coatings · 2006
Valspar Powder Coatings
Valspar’s powder-coatings business supplies dry coating materials used by industrial manufacturers. The company expanded this capability through its 2006 acquisition of H.B. Fuller’s powder-coatings business, which had manufacturing operations in the United States and United Kingdom and customers in multiple countries.
Varnish · 1905
Valspar Clear Varnish
The clear varnish introduced under the Valspar name in the early twentieth century was the product that established the brand. It was promoted for maintaining clarity rather than turning white and became Valspar’s principal product for more than 30 years.
Controversies
2017
UK interior-paint odor controversy
A formulation change affecting a Valspar interior paint sold through B&Q was followed by widespread complaints about a severe sulfur-like odor. The issue was linked to bacterial growth in affected paint, particularly under warm conditions. After initially pointing to environmental or surface-preparation factors, Valspar acknowledged contamination concerns and offered compensation for professional redecoration and related sealing work.
Marketing campaigns
- 1905The varnish that won’t turn white
United States
Valspar built early consumer recognition around advertising for its clear varnish, emphasizing resistance to whitening and positioning the product as a dependable high-quality finish.
Outcome. The campaign helped make Valspar a household name and supported the varnish’s role as the company’s main product for several decades.
Brand decisions
2016
Agreement to be acquired by Sherwin-WilliamsM&ABackground
Valspar agreed to join Sherwin-Williams after operating for many years as an independent public coatings company.
Action taken
Sherwin-Williams announced an all-cash acquisition agreement valued at approximately $9.3 billion.
Aftermath
The transaction closed on June 1, 2017, and Valspar became a Sherwin-Williams subsidiary and brand.
Transaction value. Approximately $9.3 billion (Announced March 20, 2016; completed June 1, 2017)
2000
Acquisition of Lilly IndustriesM&ABackground
Valspar continued its acquisition-led expansion across paint and specialty-coatings markets.
Action taken
Valspar acquired Lilly Industries for approximately $1.04 billion.
Aftermath
The company divested its mirror-coatings business to satisfy United States antitrust requirements.
Acquisition price. Approximately $1.04 billion (2000)
1984
Acquisition of Mobil’s coatings divisionM&ABackground
Valspar sought to increase its scale and diversify beyond its consumer-oriented base.
Action taken
The company acquired Mobil’s coatings division for approximately $100 million and completed its integration by 1986.
Aftermath
The transaction effectively doubled Valspar’s revenue and materially expanded its coatings operations.
Acquisition price. Approximately $100 million (1984)
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