Franklin Electric Announces Acquisition of a Majority Stake in Pioneer Pump Holdings Inc.
Franklin Electric Co., Inc. announced that it has completed the acquisition of a majority stake of Pioneer Pump Holdings Inc. (PPH). PPH is the holding Company for two wholly owned subsidiaries, Pioneer Pump Inc. (PPI) of Canby, Oregon and Pioneer Pump Limited (PPL) of Rattlesden, England, UK.
Pioneer is a leader in the manufacture of large, engine-driven centrifugal pumps used for dewatering in oil and gas, municipal, construction and mining applications. PPH s 2011 consolidated net sales were approximately $70.0 million.
Franklin Electric acquired a 35 percent equity interest in Pioneer Pump, Inc. in 2005. The investment had a carrying cost of about $11.0 million as of December 31, 2011. With the transaction that closed on March 7, Franklin Electric s equity interest in PPH has increased to 70 percent and PPH will now be consolidated in Franklin Electric s financial statements. As a result of this transaction, the Company will recognize a one-time gain on its previously held equity investment in Pioneer that is estimated to add $.33 to $.37 to Franklin s earnings per share during the first quarter 2012. Franklin Electric believes that the transaction will be accretive to 2012 earnings per share beyond the one-time gain on the initial PPI investment.
Franklin Electric has also definitively agreed to purchase the remaining minority shares of PPH in the first quarter of 2015.
Scott Trumbull, Franklin Chairman and Chief Executive, commented:
"Pioneer has grown rapidly and become one of the world s leading manufacturers of mobile pumping systems over the past six years because of the superior performance of their products; the strength of their distribution network with pump rental companies; and the growing use of their products for mobile pumping applications such as hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas extraction.
The acquisition of the controlling interest in Pioneer furthers Franklin s strategy of expanding sales of packaged systems products which are differentiated by technology and offer the opportunity to generate higher revenue per installation. Pioneer s presence in the oil and gas market will also compliment Franklin s initiative to introduce submersible pumping systems in this market. Going forward, we believe that Franklin s global capabilities will accelerate Pioneer s efforts to develop new and improved products, reduce costs, and expand in international markets."
Source: Franklin Electric Co., Inc.
