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Tambour is an Israeli manufacturer and marketer of paints, coatings, sealants, gypsum and other construction materials.

Last updated August 31, 2026

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Overview

Tambour is an Israeli materials company whose principal business is the manufacture, importation and marketing of paints, coatings and construction-related products. Its portfolio includes interior and other architectural paints, industrial and protective coatings, sealants, paint thinners and gypsum-based materials. The company is headquartered in Netanya and has production sites in Acre, Gesher and Migdal HaEmek. The business was established in 1936 by three immigrants from Germany and began operating near Haifa. During its early decades, Tambour developed within the economic and industrial environment of Mandatory Palestine and, later, the State of Israel. In 1944 it was acquired by the British conglomerate Jenson Nicholson. In the years that followed, a substantial portion of its activity consisted of sales to the British Army and Navy, linking the company’s early commercial development to institutional and military procurement. A new factory was constructed in Acre in 1952, giving Tambour a more substantial manufacturing base. Ownership changed again in 1960, when the company was sold to Israel Economic Corporation, associated with the IDB group, England-Israel Securities and private investors. In 1962, Tambour acquired most of Lflskon, described in the reference material as the largest paint manufacturer in South Africa at that time. This transaction represented an early effort to expand the company’s position beyond its original Israeli base. Tambour’s ownership and capital-market history has included several transitions between private and public ownership. The company remained private until 1993, when it became publicly traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. In 2001, Discount Investments sold its shareholding in Granite Carmel, and following a full tender offer Tambour was removed from trading. Shares were issued again in 2005, returning the company to public-market status, but Tambour was delisted once more in 2012. In 2014, the Singapore-based holding company Kusto Group acquired Tambour. The acquisition placed the Israeli paint and construction-materials business under new international ownership while retaining its identity as an Israeli industrial brand. Tambour has also been identified by Israel’s Antitrust Authority as a monopoly in the interior-paints sector, reflecting its strong position in that market. At the end of 2011, the company employed 686 workers. The available reference material does not identify a current chief executive, provide recent financial figures, or document a detailed international retail footprint. Accordingly, Tambour is best described as an active Israeli manufacturer with a broad construction-materials portfolio and a historically significant domestic position in paints.

History

Tambour was founded in 1936 by three immigrants from Germany. The company began operations in the area near Haifa, establishing an industrial business focused on paint production and related materials. Its early development took place during a period in which industrial supply businesses served both the local economy and large institutional customers. In 1944, Tambour was acquired by Jenson Nicholson, a British conglomerate. During the following years, sales to the British Army and Navy accounted for much of the company’s activity. This institutional business gave Tambour an important source of demand while its manufacturing and commercial capabilities developed. In 1952, the company built a new factory in Acre’s industrial area, providing a dedicated production facility and strengthening its Israeli manufacturing base. Ownership changed in 1960. Tambour was sold to Israel Economic Corporation, associated with the IDB group, England-Israel Securities and a group of private investors. Two years later, in 1962, the company acquired most of Lflskon, identified in the available account as the largest paint manufacturer in South Africa. The transaction broadened Tambour’s historical corporate footprint beyond Israel, although the available material does not provide details about the acquired operations or their later development. Tambour remained privately held until 1993, when it became a public company listed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. Its public-market history was not continuous. In 2001, Discount Investments sold its share in Granite Carmel, and following a full tender offer Tambour was delisted. The company returned to public status after issuing shares in 2005. It remained publicly traded until another delisting in 2012. The company’s operating activities have centered on the manufacture, import and marketing of paints and related products. These activities include interior paints, coatings, sealants, paint thinners and gypsum. Production sites are located in Acre, Gesher and Migdal HaEmek, while the headquarters is in Netanya. The company’s product scope places it across decorative and architectural paints, industrial or protective coatings and construction materials rather than in a single consumer-product category. Tambour was declared a monopoly by Israel’s Antitrust Authority in the interior-paints sector. This designation indicates the company’s historically substantial position in that part of the Israeli market, although the reference material does not provide the precise legal period, market-share threshold or subsequent regulatory outcome. At the end of 2011, Tambour employed 686 workers. In 2014, Kusto Group, a Singapore-based holding company, acquired Tambour. The transaction moved the business into new private ownership after its second period as a listed company. The available source identifies Tambour as an Israeli company and describes its principal manufacturing and marketing activities, but does not document a current leadership roster, recent financial performance, detailed overseas operations or a specific corporate website. Those areas therefore remain unresolved in this dossier.

  • 2014

    Kusto Group acquisition

    [1]

    Singapore-based Kusto Group acquires Tambour.

  • 2012

    Second delisting

    [1]

    Tambour is delisted from the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange for a second time.

  • 2005

    Return to public-company status

    [1]

    Tambour issues shares again and resumes public-company status.

  • 2001

    Delisting after tender offer

    [1]

    Following the sale of Discount Investments’ share in Granite Carmel and a full tender offer, Tambour is removed from exchange trading.

  • 1993

    First Tel Aviv Stock Exchange listing

    [1]

    After operating as a private company, Tambour becomes publicly traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.

  • 1962

    Acquisition of most of Lflskon

    [1]

    Tambour acquires most of Lflskon, described in the source as South Africa’s largest paint manufacturer.

  • 1960

    Ownership changes to Israeli and private investors

    [1]

    Tambour is sold to Israel Economic Corporation, England-Israel Securities and private investors.

  • 1952

    Acre factory opens

    [1]

    Tambour builds a new factory in the industrial area of Acre.

  • 1944

    Acquisition by Jenson Nicholson

    [1]

    The British conglomerate Jenson Nicholson acquires Tambour.

  • 1936

    Tambour is founded

    [1]

    Three immigrants from Germany establish the company near Haifa in what became Israel.

Products and positioning

An Israeli industrial and construction-materials brand centered on paints, coatings and related building products, with a historically strong position in the interior-paints market.

  • Architectural paints

    Interior paints

    Tambour manufactures and markets interior paints for architectural and building applications. The interior-paints business has historically been central to the company’s Israeli market position; the company was identified by Israel’s Antitrust Authority as a monopoly in this sector. Specific product names, formulations and current ranges are not provided in the available source.

  • Industrial and protective coatings

    Coatings

    Coatings are among Tambour’s principal product groups. They form part of the company’s broader materials offering alongside architectural paints and construction products. The available reference confirms the category but does not distinguish individual industrial, protective or decorative ranges or provide current technical specifications.

  • Construction chemicals

    Sealants

    Tambour manufactures, imports and markets sealants used in construction and related building applications. The source lists sealants as a related material in the company’s portfolio but does not identify specific chemistries, package formats, application systems or named product lines.

  • Paint auxiliaries

    Paint thinners

    Paint thinners are included among Tambour’s related materials. They support the use and application of paint and coating products, but the available reference does not specify formulations, intended coating systems or current branded variants.

  • Construction materials

    Gypsum

    Gypsum and gypsum-related materials extend Tambour’s business beyond liquid paints and coatings into construction materials. The available source confirms the category and identifies it as part of the company’s activities, but provides no detailed description of boards, compounds, plasters or other specific gypsum products.

Brand decisions

  • 2014

    Acquisition by Kusto GroupM&A

    Background

    Tambour was an Israeli paints and construction-materials manufacturer that had been delisted from the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange in 2012.

    Action taken

    Singapore-based holding company Kusto Group acquired Tambour.

    Aftermath

    Tambour continued as an Israeli operating brand under Kusto Group ownership; the available source does not provide transaction terms or later restructuring details.

  • 2012

    Second delistingStrategy

    Background

    Tambour had been publicly traded again since its 2005 share issue.

    Action taken

    The company was delisted from the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.

    Aftermath

    Tambour was privately held when Kusto Group acquired it in 2014.

  • 2005

    Re-entry into public marketsStrategy

    Background

    Tambour had been privately held since its removal from exchange trading in 2001.

    Action taken

    The company issued shares again and became publicly traded.

    Aftermath

    Tambour remained public until its second delisting in 2012.

  • 2001

    Removal from public tradingOther

    Background

    After Discount Investments sold its share in Granite Carmel, Tambour underwent a full tender-offer process.

    Action taken

    Tambour was removed from trading on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.

    Aftermath

    The company became private again until a new share issue restored public-company status in 2005.

  • 1962

    Acquisition of most of LflskonM&A

    Background

    Tambour pursued expansion beyond its original Israeli operations in the paint sector.

    Action taken

    The company acquired most of Lflskon, described by the source as the largest paint manufacturer in South Africa.

    Aftermath

    The available material does not document the transaction’s financial terms, subsequent integration or long-term operating outcome.

Sources1 sources

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