Commercial flooring giant Tarkett has agreed to acquire Johnsonite, a manufacturer that is based in Chagrin Falls, Ohio and best known for its specialty rubber floors and wall bases. The deal stands to significantly extend Tarkett's distribution and visibility while aligning Johnsonite with one of the world's largest flooring suppliers.

The deal calls for Johnsonite, to retain its brand identity as well as its current management team, Tarkett said. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

"Johnsonite is one of the most respected companies in the flooring industry in America," said Marc Assa, CEO of Tarkett AG. "We expect to build on this brand strength by marketing suitable Tarkett high-performance commercial solutions under the Johnsonite name."

With the acquisition, Tarkett gains additional leverage in the commercial interiors market in North America and gains immediate access to Johnsonite's extensive product portfolio. Additionally, the move will give Johnsonite greater presence in several market segments, said Jeff Buttitta, president and CEO of Johnsonite.

"Our new relationship with Tarkett will allow us to create additional customer value through broadening our system capabilities for such key market segments as healthcare, education and corporate," he said.

Tarkett's Commercial Tile business will continue to be distributed by the current Azrock and Expressions network in North America. The company, led by Gilles de Beaumont, will continue to run out of Houston, Tarkett said.