Acquisition in advanced filtration materials
Finnish Ahlstrom Corporation is acquiring Sweden-based Munktell Filter AB in a strategic move to enhance its advanced filtration business, particularly in life science and laboratory applications. The acquisition will be integrated into Ahlstrom’s Filtration business division with 11 production sites across four continents
Ahlstrom is to acquire 100 % of the shares of Munktell Filter AB, as well as its holdings in Munktell & Filtrak GmbH and Filtres Fioroni SA and Munktell Inc. The value of the transaction amounts to around EUR 20 million, including the planned subsequent buyouts of minority interests. This will make Ahlstrom – according to in-house information a global leader in life science and laboratory media filtration.
The acquired company is based in Falun (S) with production facilities in Germany and Sweden, a joint venture in France and with a sales office in the U.S.A. The company has net sales in the order of EUR 15 million and operating profit margin in 2011 was roughly 15 %. There are some 100 persons employed. The life science and laboratory specialist delivers its filtration materials to the following applications: new born screening, laboratory media filtration, filter materials for pollution control and testing materials is used by medical, sugar and beverage industries.
Munktell has a strong position in the European advanced filtration market and a solid presence in North America and by combining the business with Ahlstrom it will gain access to new markets and be driven by global changes in demographics this sector of filtration has a lucrative growth ahead.