French flooring manufacturer Tarkett (Nanterre; www.tarkett.com) has signed a non-binding agreement with construction materials specialist Gamrat (Jaslo / Poland; www.gamrat.pl/en) to acquire the Polish company’s subsidiary, Gamrat Flooring, which is also based in Poland. The planned transaction has Tarkett purchasing 100% of the Jaslo-based specialist in high-performance vinyl flooring, used for applications in the health, education and hospitality sectors. No financial details of the deal have been disclosed.

The next step for both companies involves pursuing negotiations of the planned purchase, which entails handing over both production and distribution activities of the subsidiary’s existing product ranges to the French group, which sells 1.3m m² of flooring every day to customers in the healthcare, education, housing, hotels, office, retail and sports markets.

Should the purchase go through as outlined, Tarkett would add a second manufacturing facility in Poland, where it currently has a site in Orzechowo, in the country’s western Wielkopolskie region.

“This bolt-on acquisition would strengthen Tarkett’s leadership in manufacturing and selling commercial vinyl flooring in central Europe,” stated Michel Gianuzzi, company CEO. Tarkett, which also specialises in sports surfaces, is owned primarily by the Deconinck family and private equity funds affiliated with US-based Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Co (New York; www.kkr.com). In 2012, Tarkett posted net sales of EUR 2.3 bn and targets its business in Europe, North America as well as emerging markets.

Gamrat Flooring, also known as Gamrat Wykladziny, employs 260 individuals and recorded net sales of about EUR 20m in 2012.