PPG Industries will lay off 1,800 employees in the U.S. and Europe and close plants as part of a cost-reduction program, the paints and coatings maker said on Thursday. The program focused on reducing structural costs in Europe and in certain other global businesses,

PPG Industries plans to lay off about 1,800 employees amid efforts to cut costs, with the paints and coatings maker also inking a deal to sell a sizeable chunk of its architectural business. Pittsburgh-based PPG said Thursday that the job cuts would primarily impact positions in the U.