Collision repair shops that use Glasurit or R-M refinish coatings now have a new supplier — at least in name. Surventis, formerly BASF Coatings, launched July 1 as an independent company, completing its carve-out from BASF SE. The business is majority owned by funds managed by global investment firm Carlyle in partnership with the Qatar Investment Authority, with BASF retaining a 40% stake.
The Surventis corporate brand was unveiled at launch, and the company's new website went live at www.surventiscoatings.com. The company is headquartered in Muenster, Germany, which is also the site of the world's largest integrated paint manufacturing facility, according to Surventis.
With approximately €3.9 billion in annual sales and around 10,700 employees, Surventis serves more than 42,000 customers across more than 140 countries. The company's refinish portfolio, which includes Glasurit and R-M, two brands widely used in collision repair shops across North America, carries over into the new structure without changes.
Surventis says the same products, technologies, brands, and technical teams that customers rely on today will remain in place, and the portfolio across all three business units (surface treatment, mobility coatings and refinish coatings) remains unchanged. Its portfolio also spans the Chemetall brand, which covers surface treatment solutions.
The company operates from a network of more than 30 production and development sites across more than 140 countries.
How a $9B deal went from bid to close in under a year
The transaction closes a process that began more than a year ago. In May 2025, BASF SE disclosed it was evaluating the sale of its coatings division, seeking a valuation of approximately €6 billion ($6.81 billion), as part of an effort to streamline operations and increase profitability. Carlyle was among the private equity firms identified early as a prospective bidder.
BASF and Carlyle announced a binding agreement in October 2025, valued at $8.9 billion, which included automotive refinish products, OEM coatings, and surface treatments for metal, plastic and glass. The deal was confirmed on track for a second-quarter 2026 close during BASF's first-quarter earnings call.
Refinish veteran Steve Arndt among executives named to lead the new company
BASF Coatings named the company's Executive Committee on June 25, 2026, ahead of the July 1 close. The committee is led by incoming CEO Jens Luehring, an international business leader with more than two decades of experience in corporate transformation, carve-outs, mergers and acquisitions, and finance.
"Today marks an exciting new chapter for Surventis and for all of our employees around the world," said Luehring in an annoucement. "We are building on more than 130 years of coatings expertise and some of the most trusted brands in the industry as we begin our journey as an independent company. Our customers will benefit from a faster, more focused partner, with our full attention on the surfaces they make and sell."
The full Executive Committee, effective July 1, includes Michael Pontzen as CFO; Ewout van Jarwaarde as chief transformation officer; Frank Naber as executive vice president of surface treatment; Patrick Zhao as executive vice president of mobility coatings; Steve Arndt as executive vice president of refinish coatings; and Dr. Nils Lessmann as executive vice president of operations for mobility and refinish.
Tanaka Maswoswe, partner at Carlyle, said in a statement that Surventis is "exceptionally well-positioned to accelerate innovation, deepen customer partnerships, and capture global growth opportunities."
