立邦创始人吴清亮逝世，享年98岁：从打工仔到“亚洲漆王”的传奇一生

Core Insights - The passing of Mr. Wu Qingliang, founder of Nippon Paint and Wu De Nan Holdings, has garnered widespread attention, highlighting his legacy as a prominent entrepreneur and a model for the Chinese community [1][3] Company Overview - Wu Qingliang's business journey began in 1962 when he partnered with Nippon Paint, holding a 60% stake in the joint venture, which led to rapid expansion in the Asian paint market [2] - The brand "Nippon" was established in China in 1992, becoming one of the early multinational companies in the Chinese paint industry, which was still in its infancy at that time [2] - Currently, Nippon Paint is the fourth-largest paint manufacturer globally, with over 70 production bases in China and nearly 11,000 employees [2] Philanthropic Contributions - Wu Qingliang was deeply connected to his roots, contributing over 100 million RMB to build infrastructure in his hometown, including bridges, roads, and hospitals [3] - His commitment to his heritage was evident in his frequent visits to his hometown and his daughter's remarks about his pride in his Chinese identity [3] Market Performance - Following Wu Qingliang's death, Nippon Paint's stock price dropped over 10%, with a total market value of 2.79 trillion yen (approximately 135 billion RMB) [4] - Despite the short-term stock decline, the long-term market outlook for Nippon Paint remains positive, with a projected 20% compound annual growth rate in earnings per share from 2024 to 2027 [7] - The company reported a 4.3% year-on-year increase in sales to 852.43 billion yen (approximately 57.79 billion USD or 420 billion RMB) for the first half of 2025, with a net profit increase of 34.4% [7]