IN FOCUS

In its second major deal this year, S.A Armstrong Limited (with five UK operations) has established a new company called Armstrong Integrated Systems Limited (AISL), which has just purchased the majority of assets of Plant Energy Systems Limited.

IDEX Corporation, the world’s leading provider of positive displacement pumps, dispensing equipment for color formulation, and other highly engineered products, announced the acquisition of Systec, Inc., a leader in the design and manufacture of vacuum degassing products for the analytical chemistry instrumentation market.

Diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton Corporation announced today it has signed an agreement with Invensys PLC to purchase its power systems business, Powerware Corporation, for $560 million.

IDEX Corporation announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Scivex, Inc., a leading provider of fluidic components and systems for the analytical, biotechnology and diagnostic instrumentation markets.

BWT – Best Water Technology Group, Austria, has taken another important step towards extending its worldwide professional care of its international and domestic clients in the pharmaceutical industry through the acquisition of Waterman Purification Ltd, Dublin, Ireland.

Diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton Corporation announced it has acquired the Electrum Group Ltd., a New Jersey-based company that provides power management services and web-based software for telecommunications, data center and government applications.

Flowserve Corp. announced its acquisition of the remaining shares of Thompsons, Kelly & Lewis Pty. Ltd., a leading Australian designer, manufacturer and supplier of centrifugal pumps, railway trackwork products and steel castings, for about US$11.3 million in cash.

UK-based peristaltic pump manufacturer Watson-Marlow Bredel, a major supplier to the South African mining industry, has bought back its distribution contract from Walter Becker SA and formed a new company, Watson-Marlow Bredel SA.

Parker Hannifin Corporation and Denison International plc announced the successful completion of Parker’s tender offer to purchase all of the outstanding shares of Denison for $24.00 per share in cash without interest, including all of the outstanding …

Pentair, Inc. announced today that it entered into an agreement to acquire WICOR Industries, a unit of Wisconsin Energy Corporation, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. WICOR, which manufactures water system, filtration, and pool equipment products under the Sta-Rite, SHURflo, and Hypro brands, is expected to generate sales of approximately $750 million in 2003 and employs 3,500 people in 24 locations worldwide.