Volvo announced Tuesday, Feb. 27., that it has reached an agreement with Ingersoll Rand to acquire the assets of the company’s road development division, a manufacturer of heavy equipment for road construction and soil compaction with revenues of $864 million in 2006. Operations also include material handling equipment. The purchase price amounts to $1.3 billion in cash.
“I am pleased that we can continue to expand our successful construction equipment business, and the acquisition gives Volvo Construction Equipment a world-leading position within heavy road construction equipment,” says Leif Johansson, chief executive officer of Stockholm, Sweden-based Volvo. “This acquisition is strategically important since it will improve the overall competitiveness of Volvo CE as a full-range supplier of construction equipment.”
The global market for road construction equipment is about $4 billion annually and is projected to grow substantially as a result of increased investments in infrastructure globally. Volvo CE hopes to expand in this market, and says the acquisition complements current operations by sharply strengthening Volvo’s presence in equipment for road construction work.
The acquired business includes a full range of heavy compactors, asphalt pavers and milling machines, and provides favorable growth possibilities. The acquisition also strengthens Volvo CE’s position in the market for materials handling equipment in North America. In addition, the acquisition includes 20 dealerships in North America and distribution companies in Europe and Russia, which will leverage Volvo CE’s sales of compact equipment, primarily in North America.
“Strategically, the acquisition of Ingersoll Rand Road Development fits exceptionally well with Volvo’s current operations within motor graders and positions Volvo as a full-range manufacturer of heavy road construction equipment”, says Tony Helsham, president of Volvo Construction Equipment. “Geographically, the purchase also fits Volvo CE very well and provides attractive growth possibilities by capitalizing on the common dealer network in North America, Europe and Asia.”
Ingersoll Rand’s division for road development, with headquarters in Shippensburg, Penn., has about 2,100 employees. The operations have manufacturing units in the United States, Germany, India and China. Closing of the transaction is expected during the second quarter 2007 and is subject to relevant approvals.
