Saur acquires Nijhuis and Econvert for global platform on industrial water services
French water company Saur announced the acquisition of Nijhuis Industries, one of the largest water technology suppliers in the Netherlands. The acquisition follows the take over of Econvert (the Netherlands) and Unidro (Italy).
According to Saur all companies will become part of a special platform to strengthen Saur’s global position as a provider of industrial water services.
Industrial water division
Together with Unidro’s and Econvert’s existing management teams, Menno Holterman, Nijhuis’ current CEO, will lead Saur Industrial Water division headquartered in the Netherlands, while Ronald Ruijtenberg, Nijhuis’ current CFO, will become the Industrial Water CFO.
With the support of Saur’s majority shareholder, investor firm EQT, the acquisition was signed on 16 June and is expected to be completed later this year, after customary antitrust clearance.
International growth strategy
According to Saur, the acquisitions will make the company more international, strengthen it’s technological, innovative and digital differentiation. As a leading global player in industrial water, Saur expects to raise the turnover of its division from 200 million euro today to 300 million euro by 2022.
Reference player
Patrick Blethon, Executive Chairman of Saur: 'This acquisition is a key transforming milestone in the rollout of our strategy, as it decisively places Saur among the reference players on the global Industrial Water market'.
Blethon: 'We will build upon the strong complementarities between Nijhuis Industries and the existing Saur Industry businesses, including Unidro and Econvert, to further expand our industrial footprint, and efficiently serve our industrial customers with increasingly innovative solutions, while defending water resources.'
Next step for sustainable water use
Menno Holterman, CEO of Nijhuis Industries and future head of Saur Industrial Water: 'Today marks a new step in Nijhuis’ long history of excellence and successful development.'
Holterman emphasises the new possibilities for the development of new water technologies to address the big water problems of the future. 'By partnering with Saur, we are renewing our technological edge for the coming years, ensuring our employees, clients and business partners with our reaffirmed commitment to strongly develop sustainable water use through innovation delivering solid and adaptive solutions for a sustainable and resilient future.'
