Kareena Kapoor to endorse Dulux brands

New Delhi, Nov 30 (UNI) ICI Paints India, owner of the popular Dulux brand, today said it has roped in film actress Kareena Kapoor and producer-director Karan Johar for ad-campaign of its just-unveiled colour trends.

While the actress will endorse the products, Mr Johar will direct the campaign. It will be produced by Shah Rukh Khan's production house Red Chillies Entertainment.

''We have signed a one-year contract with Kareena as our brand ambassador as she has personified fashion and style. For us the deal was a right fit,'' ICI India Ltd (Paints Div) Managing Director Hina Nagarajan told reporters here.

The company will spend over Rs 60 crore for the promotion and marketing of its products in India.

''We will spend 9-10 per cent of our turnover for brand building and growth. Our turnover last year stood at Rs 675 crore,'' Ms Nagarajan said.

Growing at a rate of 20-22 per cent per annum, the company enjoys 12-13 per cent share in the overall domestic paints market. It aims to continue the rate in future also with a slew of launches every 3-4 months, the MD said.

It today launched four new colour themes -- Colour Therapy, Mix and Match, Flavours of Home and Connection Point -- for 2007.

ICI India is a subsidiary of the UK-based Imperial Chemical Industries PLC, which operates 60 manufacturing units in 25 countries. It has presence in more than 120 countries in Asia, North America and Europe.

The paints and speciality chemicals manufacturer, ICI India last week divested its entire stake in its wholly-owned subsidiary, Quest International India Ltd to Swiss Givaudan Group - a global player in flavours and fragrance business - for Rs 390 crore.

The transaction is expected to be completed before the end of the current financial year, subject to the global deal happening within the same time-frame.

It made an investment of about Rs 209 crore in Quest India.

UNI CS DKS KN1611