. in december 2012 , the company reached a definitive agreement to acquire the north american architectural coatings business of akzo nobel , n.v. , amsterdam , in a deal valued at $ 1.05 billion . the transaction has been approved by the boards of directors of both companies and is expected to close in the first half of 2013 , subject to regulatory approvals . in december 2012 , the company acquired spraylat corp. , a privately-owned industrial coatings company based in pelham , n.y