Atlas Copco in €484 million Oerlikon Vacuum deal

Manufacturer Atlas Copco has acquired Oerlikon’s Leybold Vacuum business for CHF525 million (€484 million).

Leybold Vacuum produces vacuum equipment, customised pumping systems, leak detectors and after-market services for use in rough, medium, high and ultra-high vacuum applications to the UK market.

Its products are used to create clean, particle-free environments for such applications as automotive, metallurgy, coating of microchips, and the manufacturing of analytical instruments.

It reported revenues of CHF390 million (€360 million) in 2014 and, as of 30 June, 2015, had 1646 employees worldwide.

Oerlikon said Atlas Copco was the ideal owner to unfold the full potential of Oerlikon Leybold Vacuum as it had a strong position and wide expertise in the vacuum and compressor sector.

President of Altas Copco’s Compressor Technique business area Nico Delvaux said, “Leybold will strengthen our technology platform for superior vacuum solutions. We welcome a very knowledgeable workforce with a long history.”

The companies said the transaction was expected to close by middle of 2016.

The deal followed Atlas Copco’s acquisition in 2014 of Edwards Group., which was its first major step into the vacuum solutions business. The company said the Leybold business would also be added to its Vacuum Solutions division in the Compressor Technique business area.