SLB announces all-stock acquisition of ChampionX

BY Richard Summerfield

SLB has agreed to acquire rival oilfield service provider ChampionX Corporation for $7.8bn in an all-stock deal which will bolster SLB’s technology portfolio.

Under the terms of the agreement, ChampionX shareholders will receive 0.735 shares of SLB common stock in exchange for each ChampionX share held. At the closing of the transaction, ChampionX shareholders will own approximately 9 percent of SLB’s outstanding shares of common stock.

The transaction is subject to ChampionX shareholders’ approval, regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. Closing of the transaction is expected to occur before the end of 2024.

“Our customers are seeking to maximize their assets while improving efficiency in the production and reservoir recovery phase of their operations,” said Olivier Le Peuch, chief executive of SLB. “This presents a significant opportunity for service providers who can partner with customers throughout the entire production lifecycle, offering integrated solutions and delivering differentiated value. The combination of ChampionX’s strong production-focused leadership throughout North America and beyond with our own international presence, unmatched technology portfolio, and history of innovation will drive tremendous value for our customers and stakeholders.”

“Today’s announcement marks the start of an exciting next chapter for ChampionX,” said Soma Somasundaram, president and chief executive of ChampionX. “We have been on a journey to build the best production-focused company in our sector, with a goal of unlocking energy through our differentiated products and technology as well as our strong financial engine. Becoming part of SLB will give us a much broader portfolio and the resources and reach to continue to lead the industry in providing energy to the world in an economically and environmentally sustainable way. Our companies share a vision for the future of energy that leverages technology and innovation to solve our customers’ most complex problems and better serve the communities in which we operate.”

According to a statement announcing the deal, SLB expects to realise annual pre-tax synergies of approximately $400m within the first three years post-closing through revenue growth and cost savings.

The company has also announced plans to return $7bn to shareholders over the next two years. SLB will increase its 2024 shareholder returns to a target of $3bn as well as set a target for 2025 shareholder returns of $4bn. Last week, SLB announced it had agreed to combine its carbon capture business with Aker Carbon Capture in a $379.67m deal. SLB will own 80 percent of that combined business.

News: SLB to buy ChampionX for $8 billion in growing deal-making in US energy sector

The Home Depot acquires SRS in $18.25bn deal

BY Fraser Tennant

In what constitutes the US home improvement chain's largest acquisition, The Home Depot is to acquire building materials supplier SRS Distribution (SRS) in a deal valued at approximately $18.25bn.

The transaction brings together the impressive talent, technology and capabilities of SRS with The Home Depot’s trusted name and robust platform of The Home Depot, expanding SRS’ reach into numerous new product categories and customers.

The combined platform will open new opportunities for existing suppliers and partners by providing access to SRS’ expert workforce focused on specialty verticals, as well as The Home Depot’s cross-project expertise, product mix, network and digital assets.

“We are proud to be combining with The Home Depot to continue our growth journey with the additional resources and capabilities they will put behind us,” said Dan Tinker, president and chief executive of SRS. “We set out to find the optimal strategic outcome for the business, and we strongly believe we have achieved just that. With this combination, the future has never been brighter for our supplier partners, our customers and our team.”

Founded in 2008 and headquartered in McKinney, Texas, SRS has grown to become one of the fastest-growing building products distributors in the US. The company operates under a family of distinct local brands encompassing more than 760 locations across 47 states.

Upon the new structure, Mr Tinker and his senior management team will continue to lead SRS operations, reporting to Ted Decker, chair, president and chief executive of The Home Depot.

“SRS’ ability to build leadership positions in each of its trade verticals while generating significant revenue growth is a testament to its strong vision, leadership, culture and execution,” said Mr Decker. “SRS’ branch network, coupled with The Home Depot’s 2000-plus US stores and distribution centres and comprehensive product offering provides the residential and commercial Pro customer with more fulfillment and service options than ever before.”

The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2024 and is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

Mr Decker concluded: “I look forward to welcoming the SRS team to The Home Depot and in capturing the exciting opportunity ahead.”

News: Home Depot bulks up Pro-business with $18.25 bln deal for building products supplier SRS

Ingersoll Rand acquires ILC Dover in $2.3bn deal

BY Fraser Tennant

As part of a plan to expand its presence in life sciences, global industrial-machinery company Ingersoll Rand is to acquire engineering development and manufacturing firm ILC Dover (ILC) in a transaction valued at $2.3bn.

The acquisition – which sees Ingersoll buy ILC from New York-based investment company New Mountain Capital, four years after it acquired ILC – also includes an earnout based on meeting specific operating efficiency metrics in 2024.

The transaction will see the integration of ILC with the life science-focused brands of Ingersoll Rand, including Air Dimensions, ILS, Thomas, Tricontinent, Welch and Zinsser Analytic.

“Through ILC, we will get access to approximately 1000 customers in the broader life science and healthcare sectors, where we can leverage our demand generation capabilities to drive incremental growth in other product lines like compressors,” said Vicente Reynal, chairman and chief executive of Ingersoll Rand. “Working together, we will continue to drive sustained growth, lead customer value and innovation, and maximise value creation.”

A world-leader in innovative solutions for biopharmaceutical, pharmaceutical and medical device markets, as well as a leading supplier for the space industry, ILC has a 75-year heritage of innovation and commitment to expanding its product portfolio of mission-critical applications. It serves its global customer base across 11 engineering and production facilities located in North America, Europe and Asia.

“I am excited to combine the Ingersoll Rand and ILC Life Science portfolio of products that allow us to serve our customers from the discovery phase in the laboratory to the commercial production of life saving therapies,” said Corey Walker, president and chief executive of ILC. “Our direct channel access coupled with Ingersoll Rand’s proven growth and efficiency tools will allow us to accelerate our ability to serve customers across their workflows.”

The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the second quarter of 2024.

“This acquisition is the next phase of our long-term vision to expand into higher-growth end markets like life sciences,” concluded Mr Reynal. “I am incredibly excited to partner with the outstanding team at ILC to enhance our presence in key workflows and applications.”

News: Ingersoll Rand to buy ILC Dover for about $2.33 billion in life sciences push

Nationwide’s $3.71bn Virgin Money deal inches closer

BY Richard Summerfield

Nationwide Building Society’s $3.71bn deal to acquire Virgin Money has been unanimously recommended by the directors of both companies. Under the terms of the transaction, each Virgin Money shareholder will receive 220 pence in cash, comprising 218 pence per Virgin Money share and a proposed dividend of 2 pence per share.

The acquisition, which will solidify Nationwide’s position as the UK’s second-largest mortgage lender, will also trigger the resignation of David Duffy, chief executive of Virgin Money, and is likely to lead to job cuts as well as an official ‘review’ of the combined group’s workforce. If approved, the deal would create a combined group with £366bn in total assets, nearly 700 branches and more than 23 million customers.

Nationwide believes that the acquisition will enable it to accelerate its strategy and broaden and deepen its products and services faster than could be achieved on its own.

In a statement Nationwide has also confirmed that its chief financial officer, Chris Rhodes, will become the chief executive of Virgin Money once the acquisition is complete and Mr Duffy steps down. Muir Mathieson, deputy chief financial officer (CFO) and treasurer of Nationwide, will become CFO of Nationwide. Both appointments are subject to regulatory approval and will report directly into Debbie Crosbie, chief executive of Nationwide.

“This acquisition strengthens Nationwide and means we can offer more value and broader services for our current and future members,” said Ms Crosbie. “More people will experience the benefits of mutual ownership and the customer-focused approach of a building society.”

“Following full consideration and the appropriate due diligence, and after taking comments from members into account, the Board of Nationwide’s assessment is that the binding offer to acquire Virgin Money is in the best interests of the Society and its present and future members,” said Kevin Parry, chairman of Nationwide.

Under the terms of the deal, Virgin Money, which was bought by Clydesdale & Yorkshire Banking Group for £1.7bn in 2018, will pay a £250m exit fee to the Virgin Group to stop using its name in four years' time. The bank will also pay the Virgin Group £15m a year while it continues to do so.

News: Nationwide, Virgin Money directors "unanimously" back $3.7 bln deal

IFF to sell pharma unit for $2.85bn

BY Richard Summerfield

Roquette has agreed to acquire IFF Pharma Solutions, a worldwide producer of excipients for oral dosage solutions, from International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) in a deal worth $2.85bn.

IFF and Roquette expect to close the transaction in the first half of 2025, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. The agreed price represents an enterprise value to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) multiple of approximately 13 times.

“We are pleased to reach an agreement with Roquette that will support Pharma Solutions’ next chapter of growth as a trusted partner for the pharmaceutical industry,” said Erik Fyrwald, chief executive of IFF. “An important next step in our portfolio optimization strategy, the sale of Pharma Solutions, along with other recent actions such as our dividend rightsizing, represents a significant step towards our commitment to reducing debt leverage to 3.0x or below. This also enables us to increase focus on the core drivers of long-term profitable growth and maximize value for our shareholders.”

“We are excited to enter into this partnership with the talented Pharma Solutions team at IFF, which has grown into the go-to partner in the pharmaceutical excipients and specialty solutions markets globally,” said Pierre Courduroux, chief executive of Roquette. “The combination of our excipients expertise with IFF Pharma is a fantastic opportunity to become a true global specialist of drug delivery and oral dosage solutions, responding to the needs of our customers and to the demands of patients who are looking for continuously better treatments.”

IFF is headquartered in New York, and its pharmaceutical division is a world-class producer of excipients for oral dosage solutions, with revenues of approximately $1bn. The unit has 10 research and development or production sites globally, and around 1100 employees.

IFF has undertaken a programme of divesting its ‘non-core’ business units over the past few years as it attempts to reduce its outstanding debt load and improve its organisational structure. In mid-2021, the company struck a deal to sell its microbial control business to German specialty chemicals company Lanxess for $1.3bn. And, in late 2022, the IFF sold its savoury solutions group to PAI Partners, a private equity firm focused primarily on the food and consumer industries, for $900m.

Roquette, on the other hand, has been seeking to expand its pharmaceutical footprint in recent years. In July 2023, the company said it would acquire hard capsule maker Qualicaps, which has manufacturing and R&D sites in Japan, Spain, Romania, Canada, Brazil and the US.

News: IFF to sell pharma unit to France's Roquette in $2.85 bln deal