Acquisition
Assembly Line
Emerson Expands Automation Leadership With Agreement to Acquire Flexim
Emerson (NYSE: EMR) announced a definitive agreement to acquire FLEXIM Flexible Industriemeßtechnik GmbH (“Flexim”), a global leader in clamp-on ultrasonic flow measurement for liquids, gases and steam. Flexim brings highly differentiated, complementary technology and strong customer relationships to Emerson, with an installed base of more than 100,000 flowmeters, as well as approximately 450 employees. Flexim provides highly accurate, low-maintenance clamp-on ultrasonic flow measurement technology for a broad range of attractive end markets, including chemical, water & wastewater, life sciences, food & beverage, and power generation.
Nano Dimension Acquires Additive Flow Technology to Drive Software Excellence in 3D Design Simulation and Optimization
Nano Dimension Ltd. (Nasdaq: NNDM, “Nano Dimension” or the “Company”), a leading supplier of Additively Manufactured Electronics (“AME”) and multi-dimensional polymer, metal & ceramic Additive Manufacturing (“AM”) 3D printers, announced today that it is acquiring the technology and intellectual property of the U.K.-based company Additive Flow (“Additive Flow”), which supplies solutions for 3D design simulation and optimization.
Renesas to Acquire Cellular IoT Technology Leader Sequans Through Tender Offer
Renesas Electronics Corporation (TSE: 6723, “Renesas”), a premier supplier of advanced semiconductor solutions, and Sequans Communications S.A. (NYSE: SQNS, “Sequans”), a leader in 5G/4G cellular IoT chips and modules, today announced that the two companies have entered into a memorandum of understanding (the “MoU”). Pursuant to the terms of the MoU, Renesas will, following consultation of the Sequans’ works council and favorable recommendation by the Sequans Board, commence a tender offer to acquire all outstanding ordinary shares, including American Depositary Shares (ADS) of Sequans for $3.03 per ADS (each ADS representing four ordinary shares) in cash. The transaction values Sequans at approximately $249 million, including net debt, and is expected to close by the first quarter of calendar year 2024, subject to confirmation of tax treatment from relevant authorities, regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.
Upon closing of the transaction, Renesas intends to integrate Sequans’ breadth of cellular connectivity products and IP into its core product lineup, including microcontrollers, microprocessors, analog and mixed signal front ends. The acquisition will allow Renesas to immediately expand its reach to the Wide Area Network (WAN) market space encompassing a broad range of data rates. It will also enhance Renesas’ already rich portfolio of Personal Area Network (PAN) and Local Area Network (LAN) connectivity products.
HEICO Corporation Completes Wencor Group Acquisition
HEICO Corporation (NYSE:HEI.A and HEI) today announced that it has completed its previously announced acquisition of Wencor Group (“Wencor”) from affiliates of Warburg Pincus LLC and Wencor’s management for $1.9 billion in cash and $150 million in HEICO Class A Common Stock[1] paid at closing, or $2.05 billion in the aggregate. Wencor has joined HEICO’s Flight Support Group.
HEICO stated that it expects the highly synergistic acquisition to be accretive to its earnings within the year following the closing. Further, HEICO anticipates it will continue to achieve its often-articulated growth objectives in the years following the closing. Wencor’s parts and repairs are found in hydraulic, pneumatic, electronic and electro-mechanical, cockpit and galley systems throughout numerous aircraft models and provide Wencor’s customers with significant cost savings.
Nidec Completes Acquisition of Automatic Feed Company and Related 2 Companies, US-based Press Machine Equipment Manufacturers
Nidec Corporation (TSE: 6594; OTC US: NJDCY) (the “Company” or “Nidec”) today announced that the Company has acquired full ownership of Automatic Feed Company, Lasercoil Technologies LLC, and Automatic Leasing Company, privately- owned US companies (collectively the “Target”), from its founding family on August 1, 2023 (the “Transaction”). As a result of the Transaction, the Target became a consolidated subsidiary of Nidec.
Standex Acquires Minntronix
Standex International Corporation (NYSE:SXI) today announced that it has acquired privately-held, South Dakota-based Minntronix for approximately $30 million in cash. The transaction is being financed from Standex’s existing cash balance. In its first year of ownership, the Company expects the acquisition to be accretive to its earnings and to achieve a double-digit return on invested capital.
Minntronix designs and manufactures customized as well as standard magnetics components and products including transformers, inductors, current sensors, coils, chokes, and filters. The products are used in applications across cable fiber, smart meters, industrial control and lighting, electric vehicles, and home security markets.
MiddleGround Capital’s European Office Makes First Platform Acquisition with Close of UK-Based Automotive Transmission Systems Manufacturer Xtrac
MiddleGround Capital, an operationally focused private equity firm that makes control investments in middle market B2B industrial and specialty distribution companies globally, today announced that its European office has completed its first platform acquisition with the purchase of Xtrac (“the Company”), the leading manufacturer and supplier of high performance transmissions for top-level professional motorsport and specialist high performance automotive applications.
Techmer PM Announces the Acquisition of Advanced Color Technologies
Techmer PM, a global leader in polymer materials design, announced today that it has signed an agreement to acquire color and additive compounder Advanced Color Technologies (ACT). The combined technology and capabilities of the two organizations will expand Techmer’s position as the innovation leader for colorants and additives in the synthetic fibers segment. The deal is expected to close by August 31. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Altair Expands Digital Engineering Technology with Acquisition of OmniV
Altair (Nasdaq: ALTR), a global leader in computational science and artificial intelligence (AI), acquired OmniV, a technology out of XLDyn, a product development software company based in southeast Michigan. OmniV empowers open model-based systems engineering (MBSE) practice across systems, simulation, test, product development, and controls engineering by formalizing the development, integration, and use of models to inform enterprise and program decision-making.
OmniV eliminates the silos that occur between high-level system modeling and simulation, as well as detailed, domain-specific modeling and simulation. OmniV is vendor agnostic and can connect to various enterprise data stores and verification and validation methods – including those from third-party vendors – to support program goals. OmniV brings together cross-domain product development activities using the MBSE methodology in a fully integrated and easy-to-use tool.
Johnson Controls to expand OpenBlue digital buildings capabilities through acquisition of workplace management software leader FM:Systems
Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI), the global leader for smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, has acquired FM:Systems, a leading digital workplace management and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions provider for facilities and real estate professionals. The base purchase price for the transaction is $455 million, plus additional payments to be made subject to the achievement of post-closing earnout milestones.
John Deere Acquires Smart Apply
Deere & Company (NYSE: DE) has acquired Smart Apply, Inc., a precision spraying equipment company based in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The company developed the Smart Apply Intelligent Spray Control System™, an upgrade kit that can improve the precision and performance of virtually any air-blast sprayer used in orchard, vineyard, and tree nursery spraying applications. Smart Apply helps growers reduce chemical use, airborne drift, and run off, while optimizing high-value crop yields and meeting sustainability objectives.
John Deere has worked with Smart Apply since 2020.
Smart Apply’s precision spraying helps achieve up to 93% less chemical runoff and up to 87% reduction in airborne drift, while reducing chemical use an average of 50%. With less chemical use, growers also average a 50% reduction in water use.
Rivian Acquires 'A Better Routeplanner' to Enable a Seamless Route Planning Experience
Rivian Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ: RIVN) has today announced the acquisition of Swedish mapping company Iternio, developer of the ‘A Better Routeplanner’ (ABRP) app. ABRP is an industry leader in EV trip planning and has a strong community of EV drivers in both North America and Europe. ABRP gives EV drivers the ability to plan and compare routes and charging stop options.
Daimler Truck, Mitsubishi Fuso, Hino and Toyota Motor Corporation conclude an MoU on accelerating development of Advanced Technologies and merging Mitsubishi Fuso and Hino Motors
Daimler Truck Holding AG (“Daimler Truck”) Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (“MFTBC”), Hino Motors Ltd. (“Hino”) and Toyota Motor Corporation (“Toyota”) today concluded a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on accelerating the development of advanced technologies and merging MFTBC and Hino. Daimler Truck, MFTBC, Hino, and Toyota will collaborate toward achieving carbon neutrality and creating a prosperous mobility society by developing CASE technologies (Connected / Autonomous & Automated / Shared / Electric) and strengthening the commercial vehicle business on a global scale.
🦾 Blackford Capital Acquires Industrial Automation Leader PACIV
Blackford Capital (“Blackford”), a leading lower middle market private equity firm, announced today the acquisition of PACIV which specializes in industrial automation solutions. PACIV is a leading full-service provider of industrial process automation and systems integration primarily for manufacturers in the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries. The company was founded in 1997, and operates offices in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Indianapolis, Indiana, and in Cork, Ireland. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
🦾 KKR to take machinery maker Circor private in $1.6 billion deal
KKR & Co Inc (KKR.N) will buy industrial machinery maker Circor International Inc (CIR.N) in a $1.6-billion deal and take it private, as the private equity firm looks to double down on investments in the flow-control market. “KKR will help us expand our presence in the flow-control space,” Circor’s Chief Executive Officer Tony Najjar said.
✈️ AE Industrial Partners Makes a Significant Investment in Yingling Aviation
AE Industrial Partners, LP (“AEI”), a U.S-based private equity firm specializing in aerospace, defense & government services, space, power & utility services, and specialty industrial markets, announced today that it has acquired a majority interest in Yingling Aviation (the “Company”), a leading provider of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) and fixed-base operator (FBO) services to business aviation and government customers throughout the United States. Yingling Aviation Chairman and CEO Lynn Nichols and President Andrew Nichols will remain active leaders and investors in the Company. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
🖨️ Stratasys to Combine with Desktop Metal in Approximately $1.8 Billion All-Stock Transaction
Stratasys Ltd. (Nasdaq SSYS) (“Stratasys”) and Desktop Metal, Inc. (NYSE DM) (“Desktop Metal”) today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement whereby the companies will combine in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $1.8 billion. The transaction unites the polymer strengths of Stratasys with the complementary industrial mass production leadership of Desktop Metal’s brands, creating an additive manufacturing company that is expected to be well-positioned to serve the evolving needs of customers in manufacturing.
Stratasys and Desktop Metal are expected to generate $1.1 billion in 2025 revenue, with significant upside potential in a total addressable market of more than $100 billion by 2032.
Arkema acquires Polytec PT, specialized in adhesives for batteries and electronics
With the planned acquisition of Polytec PT, Arkema will strengthen Bostik’s product offer to serve the fast-growing batteries and electronics markets. This bolt-on acquisition is part of the Group’s strategy to become a full system provider and support its customers to develop sustainable solutions for the batteries and electronics markets.
Polytec PT, a company based in Germany, develops thermal interface materials for batteries and engineering adhesives for the electronics market. It delivers around €15 million sales with one main production site in Karlsbad, Germany.
Arconic to Be Acquired by Apollo Funds
Arconic Corporation (NYSE ARNC) (“Arconic” or the “Company”) announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management, Inc. (NYSE APO) (“Apollo”), in an all-cash transaction that values the Company at an enterprise value of approximately $5.2 billion. The transaction includes a minority investment from funds managed by affiliates of Irenic Capital Management (“Irenic”).
The agreement provides that Arconic shareholders will receive $30.00 per share in cash, which represents a premium of approximately 36% to the Company’s undisturbed closing stock price on February 27, 2023. Upon completion of the transaction, Arconic’s shares will no longer trade on the New York Stock Exchange, and Arconic will become a private company.
Ocado Group Announces An Agreement To Acquire 6 River Systems
Ocado Group (“Ocado”) is delighted to announce it has reached an agreement with Shopify to acquire 6 River Systems. 6 River Systems is a collaborative AMR (Autonomous Mobile Robot) fulfilment solutions provider to the logistics and non-grocery retail sectors, based in Massachusetts, USA. It was founded in 2015 and developed an Autonomous Mobile Robot product called ‘Chuck’ that provides automated assistance to pickers in a warehouse, working collaboratively with human operators.
DuPont to Acquire Spectrum Plastics Group from AEA Investors
DuPont (NYSE DD) today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Spectrum Plastics Group (“Spectrum”) from AEA Investors. The purchase price will be paid from existing cash balances. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the third quarter of 2023, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions
Spectrum is a recognized leader in advanced manufacturing of specialty medical devices and components, serving 22 of the top 26 medical device OEMs with a strategic focus on key fast-growing therapeutic areas such as structural heart, electrophysiology, surgical robotics and cardiovascular.
AMETEK Acquires Bison Gear & Engineering Corp.
AMETEK, Inc. (NYSE AME) today announced the acquisition of Bison Gear & Engineering Corp. (Bison), a leading manufacturer of highly engineered motion control solutions serving diverse markets and applications.
Bison designs and manufactures custom motion control solutions for use in demanding and high precision applications within the automation, power, food and beverage, and transportation markets. With a strong focus on innovation, quality, and customer service, Bison has established a reputation as a trusted and reliable provider of highly engineered products and solutions.
Honeywell to Acquire Compress Controls Corporation, Driving the Energy Transition Through Leading Automation and Control Portfolio
Honeywell (Nasdaq: HON) today announced it has agreed to acquire Compressor Controls Corporation (CCC) from INDICOR, LLC, which is owned by funds affiliated with private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, LLC and Roper Technologies, Inc., for $670 million, which represents ~15x 2023E EBITDA on a tax adjusted basis, in an all-cash transaction. CCC is a leading provider of turbomachinery control and optimization solutions, including control hardware, software and services, and primarily serves the LNG, gas processing, refining and petrochemical segments.
Rising demand for SiC chips: Bosch plans to acquire U.S. chipmaker TSI Semiconductors
Bosch is expanding its semiconductor business with silicon carbide chips. The technology company plans to acquire assets of the U.S. chipmaker TSI Semiconductors, based in Roseville, California. With a workforce of 250, the company is a foundry for application-specific integrated circuits, or ASICs. Currently, it mainly develops and produces large volumes of chips on 200-millimeter silicon wafers for applications in the mobility, telecommunications, energy, and life sciences industries. Over the next years, Bosch intends to invest more than 1.5 billion USD in the Roseville site and convert the TSI Semiconductors manufacturing facilities to state-of-the-art processes. Starting in 2026, the first chips will be produced on 200-millimeter wafers based on the innovative material silicon carbide (SiC).
Everstream Analytics Acquires BlueNode to Expand Intermodal Analytics Solutions for Global Supply Chain Execution
Everstream Analytics, the global supply chain insights and risk analytics software company, announced today the acquisition of BlueNode. BlueNode automates the enrichment of intermodal logistic data with an AI-powered cleansing and integration engine that helps streamline logistics and facilitates carbon emission measurement and reporting. BlueNode aligns the flow of information with the flow of goods to deliver improved data transparency, reliability, and availability, powering confidence that underpins time-sensitive strategic decision-making.
Carrier Announces Portfolio Transformation to Create Global Leader in Intelligent Climate and Energy Solutions
Carrier Global Corporation (NYSE: CARR) today announced strategic actions that will transform the Company’s business portfolio and establish Carrier as a pure-play, global leader in intelligent climate and energy solutions.
Carrier will acquire Viessmann Climate Solutions, the largest segment of Viessmann Group, in a cash and stock transaction valued at €12 billion, subject to working capital and other adjustments. The value represents approximately 13X synergized projected 2023 EBITDA. A privately held company with a 106-year legacy of innovation, Viessmann Climate Solutions provides Carrier with an iconic, premium brand in the highest growth segment of the global heat pump and energy transition markets. In addition, Carrier announced plans to exit its Fire & Security and Commercial Refrigeration cabinet businesses.
💰 Emerson Electric to buy National Instruments for $8.2 bln to deepen automation push
U.S. industrial conglomerate Emerson Electric Co (EMR.N) on Wednesday agreed to buy National Instruments Corp (NATI.O) for $8.2 billion, capping a nearly yearlong pursuit of the measurement equipment maker. The $60-per-share cash offer represents a premium of nearly 50% to National Instruments’ closing price on Jan. 12, the day before it announced a strategic review. Austin, Texas-based National Instruments’ shares rose nearly 10% to touch a record high of $57.65, while Emerson’s shares fell more than 1% to $83.1. Emerson, which had first approached National Instruments with an offer of $48 per share last May, beat out rival bidder Fortive Corp (FTV.N) in a tightly contested process late on Tuesday, according to people familiar with the matter.
Nexa3D acquires Addifab
Nexa3D, a specialist in ultrafast polymer 3D printing hardware, has completed the acquisition of Addifab, the originator of Freeform Injection Molding, a proprietary and patented digital tooling process that couples the design freedom of 3D printing with the mechanical performance of injection molding using thousands engineering materials.
AAR acquires Trax, a leading provider of aircraft MRO and fleet management software
AAR CORP. (NYSE: AIR), a leading provider of aviation services to commercial and government operators, MROs, and OEMs, has acquired Trax USA Corp., a leading independent provider of aircraft MRO and fleet management software.
The Trax acquisition accelerates AAR’s strategy to offer digital solutions focused on its core aviation aftermarket customers. Trax adds established, higher-margin aviation aftermarket software offerings with recurring revenue to AAR’s portfolio, and its complementary customer base provides opportunities to cross-sell products and services.
🚜 Augmenta acquired by CNH Industrial
Augmenta Agriculture Technologies announced on Monday, March 13 that it has been acquired by CNH Industrial, a world-class equipment and services company. This acquisition will accelerate Augmenta’s growth and offer a unique opportunity to expand its state-of-the-art perception and automation capabilities, broaden its global market reach, and increase its impact on thousands of farms worldwide. With this integration, Augmenta will amplify its impact, while CNH Industrial will provide a seamless offering of the deepest technology in its farm input automation vertical.
Rockwell Automation Announces Acquisition of Knowledge Lens
Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, today announced that it acquired Knowledge Lens. Based in Bengaluru, India, Knowledge Lens is a services and solutions provider that delivers actionable business insights from enterprise data, combining digital technologies with deep data science, artificial intelligence (AI), and engineering expertise. Knowledge Lens will join Rockwell’s premier digital services business, Kalypso, to accelerate transformational outcomes for more manufacturers around the world.
Texada Software and Uptake Canada, Inc., Merge, Creating a New SaaS Platform for the Equipment Dealership and Rental Industry
Texada Software, creators of leading SaaS rental and mobile applications for the equipment industry, today announced a merger with Uptake Canada, Inc. (also known as “Uptake Dealer,”), the equipment dealer software subsidiary of Uptake Technologies, which acquired what was formerly Canam Solutions in 2016.
Yokogawa Acquires Fluence Analytics, a Pioneer in Digitalizing the Monitoring of Polymerization Reaction Processes
Yokogawa Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6841) announces the acquisition of Fluence Analytics, Inc., a US-based startup that provides real-time analytics solutions to polymer and biopharmaceutical companies worldwide. Since signing investment and collaboration agreements in August 2021, the two companies have been exploring potential business opportunities. Through this acquisition, Fluence Analytics will integrate its operations with Yokogawa’s existing business and further enhance its technological capabilities. Starting today, Fluence Analytics will operate as Yokogawa Fluence Analytics.
QAD Acquires Redzone, the World’s #1 Connected Workforce Platform, to Fortify its Vision of the Adaptive Enterprise
QAD Inc., a Thoma Bravo portfolio company delivering next-generation manufacturing and supply chain solutions in the cloud to enable the Adaptive Enterprise, has closed the acquisition of Redzone, the top connected workforce solution for manufacturing. Over 1,000 plants and 300,000 frontline workers worldwide rely on Redzone’s solutions to create a better employee experience for frontline teams and transform productivity by energizing and arming teams with the digital workflows and collaboration tools to get the most out of every shift.
MiddleGround Capital Announces Acquisition of Megatech
MiddleGround Capital, an operationally focused private equity firm that makes control investments in North American middle market B2B industrial and specialty distribution companies, today announced it has acquired Megatech (the “Company”), a new digital manufacturing platform investment focused on computerized numerical control (“CNC”) machining of highly-complex, highly-precise, low volume engineered parts.
Xylem To Acquire Evoqua in $7.5 Billion All-Stock Transaction
Xylem Inc. (NYSE: XYL), a leading global water technology company (“Xylem”), and Evoqua (NYSE: AQUA), a leader in mission-critical water treatment solutions and services, today announced they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Xylem will acquire Evoqua in an all-stock transaction that reflects an implied enterprise value of approximately $7.5 billion.
AVEVA announces the completion of its acquisition by Schneider Electric
AVEVA, a global leader in industrial software, today announced the completion of its acquisition by Schneider Electric, a leading global industrial company specializing in digital automation and energy management. Since its foundation, AVEVA has grown from a niche design software developer to a leading global industrial software company with a value of more than £10bn.
Grid Dynamics Acquires Mutual Mobile to Deepen Expertise in Experience Design, Mixed Reality, and Cloud Edge for Global Brands
Grid Dynamics Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:GDYN) (Grid Dynamics), a leader in enterprise-level digital transformation services and solutions, today announced the acquisition of Mutual Mobile, an innovation leader that brings digital experiences to life through an integrated approach to design and technology. With around 200 employees across India and North America, Mutual Mobile will contribute significantly to supporting Grid Dynamics’ objective of diversifying its global client base and enabling quality engineering talent to join the company.
Defense Contractor L3Harris Plans to Buy Aerojet Rocketdyne for $4.7 Billion
Defense firm L3Harris Technologies Inc. said it agreed to buy Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings Inc. in a $4.7 billion deal that would cement L3Harris’s role as one of six prime defense contractors for the Pentagon. Aerojet is a major maker of engines used in missiles, such as the Javelin deployed in Ukraine. Its products also help power National Aeronautics and Space Administration rockets and U.S. military hypersonic systems designed to deter China’s military expansion. Aerojet was put back up for sale after federal regulators in January sued to block its planned $4.4 billion purchase by Lockheed Martin Corp. on antitrust grounds, sparking a bitter internal board battle.
South Korea's Hanwha inks $1.5bn deal to buy Daewoo Shipbuilding
Daewoo Shipbuilding, which announced the deal in a regulatory filing Friday, will issue new shares to six Hanwha Group companies through a private placement, giving the group a 49.3% stake to become the largest shareholder. Hanwha Aerospace will invest 1 trillion won and Hanwha Systems, a defense equipment company, will invest 500 billion won. Hanwha, a defense contractor, is looking to expand its scale using Daewoo Shipbuilding’s naval and submarine businesses.
Fast Radius assets acquired by SyBridge Technologies in $15.9m deal
The sale comes a month on from Fast Radius filing for chapter 11 bankruptcy and nine months after its public listing. The sale to SyBridge is subject to bankruptcy court approval and is expected to close before the end of 2022. SyBridge is acquiring most of the operating assets of Fast Radius and says that it intends to make offers of employment to a majority of current Fast Radius employees.
According to SyBridge, Fast Radius will continue to operate and build its digital manufacturing and software business under its new owner and will go to market under the Fast Radius brand name. This acquisition is SyBridge’s fourteenth since the company’s inception in 2019.
Dutch semiconductor company Nexperia acquires Delft-based energy harvesting firm Nowi: Here’s why
Nijmegen, the Netherlands-based Nexperia, a company specialised in high-volume chip production, announced on Friday, November 11, that it has acquired Delft-based startup Nowi. However, the Dutch company did not disclose the financial details of the deal. With this acquisition, Nexperia aims to broaden its portfolio of power management products to include energy-harvesting solutions. Further, this deal is part of Nexperia’s shift into producing more integrated chipsets as well as its discrete power devices.
Founded in 2016, Nowi is a private semiconductor firm that has developed energy-harvesting power management IC (PMIC) that combines the smallest PCB (Printed Circuit Board) footprint with the lowest BOM (Bill of Material) cost and the best average harvesting performance. As a result, it simplifies the design process and lowers the threshold for any company to develop ‘Plug & Forget’ products.
Blackstone, Emerson Electric Strike $14 Billion Buyout Deal
Emerson Electric Co. is selling a majority stake in its climate-technologies business to Blackstone Inc. in a transformational deal for the industrial company that would value the unit at $14 billion including debt and mark the biggest private-equity buyout in months at a time when such activity has been choked off by market volatility.
The deal, announced Monday, would give Blackstone a 55% stake in the unit, which sells compressors and other HVAC products and services used in commercial and residential heating and cooling as well as cold storage. Emerson would retain a 45% stake.
Stratasys acquires quality assurance software firm Riven
Stratasys has announced the acquisition of quality assurance software company Riven for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition was closed in October 2022 and includes all intellectual property associated with Warp Adaptive Modeling (WAM) and Predive WAM (PWAM), as well as members of the Riven team.
Riven, already a Stratasys connectivity software partner, will now be fully integrated into Stratasys’ GrabCAD Additive Manufacturing Platform. It represents Stratasys fifth acquisition in the last two years, following the takeovers of Origin, RPS, Xaar 3D and Covestro Additive Manufacturing. By integrating Riven’s software into GrabCAD, Stratasys believes it will further enhance the potential for customers to scale their shipments of 3D printed end-use components, while also reducing waste via a reduced number of iterations.
Epicor Acquires MES Provider eFlex Systems
Epicor, a global leader of industry-specific enterprise software to promote business growth, today announced it has acquired eFlex Systems, a provider of cloud-based Manufacturing Execution System (MES) technologies. The acquisition expands the Epicor portfolio of Advanced MES capabilities to help manufacturers increase productivity by modernizing their production environments through digital work instructions, advanced process control, and real-time visibility. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Amazon is buying Cloostermans, a mechatronics specialist in Belgium, to ramp up its robotics operations
Amazon has made a string of startup acquisitions over the years to build out its robotics business; now, the e-commerce leviathan is taking an interesting turn in that strategy as it expands its industrial warehouse capabilities. Amazon is acquiring Cloostermans, a company out of Belgium that is a specialist in mechatronics. It’s been building technology to move and stack heavy palettes and totes, and robotics used to package products for customer orders. Amazon has been using those products as a customer of Cloostermans’ since 2019 for e-commerce operations; it’s making the acquisition to ramp up its R&D and deployment in that area.
Hitachi Acquires Key Industry 4.0 Systems Integrator – Flexware Innovation
Hitachi, Ltd. announced that it acquired Flexware Innovation, Inc. which has been a leading manufacturing Systems Integrator (SI) since 1996. Flexware Innovation was a strategic acquisition for Hitachi due to its focus on the TOTAL SEAMLESS SOLUTION that links “shop floor” and “top floor” with data and digital technology.
With this acquisition of Flexware Innovation, Hitachi will strengthen and enhance its business in the domain of MES (Manufacturing Execution Systems), SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition), Software Development, Business Intelligence (BI), and ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) implementation capabilities in North America, and accelerate the digitalization with JR Automation which engages in the robotic SI & automation. Further, through cooperation with Hitachi Vantara which has expertise in building and deploying Enterprise and Cloud applications, Hitachi will be able to provide TOTAL SEAMLESS SOLUTION from robotic SI & automation, MES, SCADA, BI, and ERP and help manufacturing leaders increase corporate value.
SLM and Nikon enter into Investment Agreement – Nikon to launch public takeover offer for SLM
SLM Solutions Group AG (“SLM Solutions”, “SLM” or the “Company”) and Nikon Corporation (“Nikon”) have entered into an Investment Agreement in relation to a voluntary public takeover offer that Nikon intends to launch for all outstanding shares of SLM at a cash consideration of EUR 20 per share.
With SLM becoming part of Nikon’s digital manufacturing strategy, SLM management is convinced this transaction will further enhance SLM’s ability to stay at the forefront of metal Additive Manufacturing and enhance its leadership position in delivering superior products and solutions to its customers.
A new chapter for Intrinsic
I’m thrilled to share that Intrinsic and Vicarious are now one team with an ambitious mission to unlock the creative and economic potential of industrial robotics for millions more businesses and developers.
Over the last few years, Vicarious has carved a unique path in the robotics as a service (RaaS) space, serving market-leading customers with turnkey solutions for high-demand tasks like kitting and palletizing, among others. They also built a passionate and multidisciplinary team in the process, including folks from their recently acquired subsidiary, Akasha Imaging — a computational imaging company offering perception capabilities and a proprietary vision system enabling robots to ‘see’ with the help of AI.
BioNTech to Acquire InstaDeep to Strengthen Pioneering Position in the Field of AI-powered Drug Discovery, Design and Development
BioNTech SE (Nasdaq: BNTX, “BioNTech”) and InstaDeep Ltd. (“InstaDeep”) today announced that they have entered into an agreement under which BioNTech will acquire InstaDeep, a leading global technology company in the field of artificial intelligence (“AI”) and machine learning (“ML”). The transaction includes a total upfront consideration of approximately £362 million in cash and BioNTech shares to acquire 100% of the remaining InstaDeep shares, excluding the shares already owned by BioNTech. In addition, InstaDeep shareholders will be eligible to receive additional performance-based future milestone payments up to approximately £200 million. The transaction follows BioNTech’s initial equity investment as part of InstaDeep’s Series B financing round in January 2022.
The acquisition supports BioNTech’s strategy to build world-leading capabilities in AI-driven drug discovery and development of next-generation immunotherapies and vaccines to address diseases with high unmet medical need. The transaction will combine two organizations with a common culture and is expected to add approximately 240 highly skilled professionals to BioNTech’s workforce, including teams in AI, ML, bioengineering, data science, and software development. Through the acquisition, BioNTech will grow its network of global research collaborators in the field and expand its footprint in key talent hubs across the United States, Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
NTT DATA Completes Acquisition of Chainalytics, Expanding Supply Chain Consulting Capabilities
NTT DATA Services, a global digital business and IT services leader, successfully completed its acquisition of Chainalytics on Dec. 30, 2021, strengthening its supply chain consulting and analytics capabilities. Chainalytics, which will operate as Chainalytics, an NTT DATA company, offers end-to-end supply chain transformation and consulting expertise that aligns a company’s supply chain to its corporate strategy to capture maximum value. The acquisition expands NTT DATA’s digital and consulting business by adding approximately 200 supply chain specialists globally.
SparkCognition Acquires Industrial Knowledge Management Company Maana, Expanding Fortune Global 100 Portfolio
SparkCognition, the world’s leading infrastructure-focused artificial intelligence (AI) company, is pleased to announce it has acquired Maana, a leading digital knowledge platform company. Through this acquisition, SparkCognition gains Maana’s computational knowledge graph technology, its industrial expertise and customers such as Chevron, Shell, Aramco, and Airbus, expanding its Fortune Global 100 footprint with multi-year software agreements. SparkCognition’s AI platform combined with Maana’s digital knowledge technology will accelerate customers’ time to value in adopting AI-driven decision making across the enterprise.
Zoetis Acquires Performance Livestock Analytics to Expand Its Digital and Data Analytics Offering to Livestock Producers
Zoetis today announced the acquisition of Performance Livestock Analytics to enhance its animal health solutions across the continuum of care for beef producers. The addition of Performance Livestock Analytics, a technology company that simplifies data and analytics for the livestock industry, will help Zoetis to accelerate progress in precision livestock farming and improve sustainability of producers’ operations. Financial terms of the transaction are not being disclosed.
Adobe Acquires Allegorithmic, the Leader in 3D Editing and Authoring for Gaming and Entertainment
With this acquisition, Creative Cloud will benefit from Allegorithmic tools that are already helping top gaming, entertainment, retail, and other brands create the textures and materials that give 3D content detail and realism. Allegorithmic’s Substance family of tools are used in the vast majority of AAA games, including Call of Duty, Assassin’s Creed, and _Forza. _They’re increasingly being used for visual effects and animation in entertainment, including in award-winning, popular movies like Blade Runner 2049, Pacific Rim Uprising, and Tomb Raider. And they’re being adopted in the fields of design, product visualization, retail and marketing, architecture, and manufacturing, where 3D content is transforming traditional workflows into fully digital ones.
Plex Systems Acquires DATTUS to Accelerate IIoT Adoption
Plex Systems, the leader in cloud ERP and MES for manufacturing, today announced it has acquired DATTUS, Inc. a leader in Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) connectivity technologies. DATTUS solutions connect manufacturing equipment and sensors to the cloud, manage high-volume data streams, and analyze in-motion equipment data to optimize performance, reduce costs, and ensure uptime. The acquisition is expected to accelerate Plex’s IIoT strategy, extending the Plex Manufacturing Cloud to new streams of machine data and the underlying intelligence. The acquisition was completed in July 2018.
Deere to advance machine learning capabilities in acquisition of Blue River Technology
Deere & Company (NYSE DE) has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Blue River Technology, which is based in Sunnyvale, California and is a leader in applying machine learning to agriculture. As an innovation leader, Blue River Technology has successfully applied machine learning to agricultural spraying equipment and Deere is confident that similar technology can be used in the future on a wider range of products, May said. Blue River has designed and integrated computer vision and machine learning technology that will enable growers to reduce the use of herbicides by spraying only where weeds are present, optimizing the use of inputs in farming – a key objective of precision agriculture.