Swedish engineering group Atlas Copco said on Monday it would acquire British industrial technology firm Edwards Group for up to $1.6 billion. The offer price is at least 11 percent more than Edwards’ average value over the past 30 days of trading.
Atlas Copco said the acquisition was an all-cash transaction utilizing its own funds and that the transaction would close in the first quarter.

“Edwards is a technology leader with a well-developed structure and solid customer relationships in industries we know well,” Atlas Copco CEO Ronnie Leten said in a statement. “It is a great fit for Atlas Copco.”

This would be the latest offer for a U.K. manufacturer from a larger European competitor, according to Bloomberg. Schneider Electric SA of France last month agreed to buy Invensys Plc to gain control systems used by chemicals makers and oil refineries. Trelleborg AB agreed in April to purchase Ambler Technologies Ltd., a maker of composite materials located near Manchester, England.

The vacuum solutions market is growing and has similar characteristics to our existing industrial businesses.

Edwards has more than 3,200 full-time employees and 500 temporary workers in about 30 countries, according to its website. În România, produsele Edwards Group sunt importate de către compania Adrem Invest.

Flat Panels

Edwards makes vacuum products and abatement systems to create controlled, low-pressure, particle-free environments for companies building semiconductors, flat-panel displays and solar products as well as for scientific and industrial use. Edwards’ products are imported to Romania by Adrem Invest.
Leten said in an interview in February that while the company could manage a $5 billion takeover, its first strategy is to seek small to midsize acquisitions while also making investments and returning cash to shareholders.

Atlas Copco AB is an international industrial group. The Group develops, manufactures, and markets compressed air equipment and generators, construction and mining equipment, electric and pneumatic tools, and assembly systems and offers related services. In Romania, the group operates through Atlas Copco România SRL (2012 – Turnover: 62,46 million lei, Profit: 6,26 million lei).