US-based Hillenbrand, Inc. announced on 16 October that it has agreed to purchase the Coperion Group, Stuttgart, Germany for an estimated $530M. The transaction is expected to be finalised by end of the year, subject to regulatory approvals. Hillenbrand, which is publicly listed on the New York Stock Exchange, will acquire Coperion from Deutsche Beteiligungs AG, a leading German private equity company.
It will form part of Hillenbrand’s Process Equipment Group, which currently comprises three operating companies: K-Tron, which focuses primarily on feeding and pneumatic conveying equipment; Rotex, a manufacturer of separation equipment, including gyratory and vibratory screeners and sifters; and TerraSource Global, which makes size reduction equipment, conveying systems and screening equipment, operating under the three brands Pennsylvania Crusher, Gundlach and Jeffrey Rader. K-Tron and Rotex were acquired by Hillenbrand in early 2010 and August 2011, respectively.
Commenting on the Coperion takeover, president of Hillenbrand’s Process Equipment Group Joe Raver said: “This acquisition will enhance Hillenbrand’s growth strategy and strengthens our position in key markets such as the plastics, chemicals, food and minerals industries.”  Günter Bachmann, CEO of Coperion, stated that the change of ownership was expected to open up new opportunities for Coperion in markets beyond the plastics industry and would reduce its dependency on polymer industry business. www.hillenbrand.com; www.coperion.com

Coperion CEO Günter Bachmann (second from left) on the occasion earlier this year of his company’s takeover of Weicom srl 

« Back