IN FOCUS

Despite the economic slowdown that began in 2007, the pump industry over the past decade has experienced relatively stable activity in mergers and acquisitions and surprisingly high prices for those transactions. This article, an excerpt from William Blair & Company’s spring 2010 Pump Industry Insights report, looks at the factors driving the industry’s strong M&A activity and assesses the landscape for future deals.

ITT Corporation announced its agreement to purchase Nova Analytics Corporation. Nova Analytics is a privately held, leading manufacturer of premium quality laboratory, field, portable, and on-line analytical instruments used in water and wastewater, environmental, medical, and food and beverage applications.

AxFlow Limited in Dublin Ireland, part of the AxFlow Group, has announced its acquisition of liquids handling supplier Combiflow Limited in Ballymount West Dublin. The acquisition of Combiflow makes AxFlow Ireland the largest distributor of positive displacement pumps and fluid handling systems throughout Ireland.

National Oilwell Varco, Inc. announced that it has acquired two private businesses serving the international oil and gas industry, for total consideration of approximately $160 million in cash.

Waterjet manufacturer Jet Edge, Inc. of St. Michael, Minn., is pleased to announce that it has acquired Calypso Waterjet Systems of Dallas, Texas.

The Hydraulic Institute (HI) and the Technical Association of Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI) announced today that they have partnered to provide their memberships with a direct link to purchase industry leading pump standards specific to pumps installed or required in the pulp and paper industry.

Baker Hughes Incorporated and BJ Services Company announced that their Boards of Directors have approved a definitive merger agreement, which represents a transaction value of $5.5 billion for BJ Services based on closing stock prices on August 28, 2009.

Now that LEWA GmbH has been acquired by the Japanese company NIKKISO Co., Ltd., both companies are excited about their shared synergies in product technology and global market presence. The acquisition contract is still pending approval by the German Federal Cartel Office, and is expected to be completed within one month.

BWT is expanding its expertise with the taking over of the pharmaceutical water activities of the Christ Water Technology Group incl. a 49% stake in zeta-group. Bringing an entirely new dimension to safety, hygiene and health in contact with life’s elixir “water”, in particular in pharmaceutical water applications.

ITT Corporation announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Laing GmbH of Germany, a privately held leading producer of energy-efficient circulator pumps primarily used in residential and commercial plumbing and heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.