Operator News
US – Crane Co. spends $800m on Crane & Co.
By Phil - 8 December 2017
Crane Co., a diversified manufacturer of highly engineered industrial products, is buying Crane & Co., (Crane Currency) from private equity firm Lindsay Goldberg, members of the Crane family, and other shareholders, for $800m.
Founded in 1801, Crane Currency is a pioneer in advanced micro-optic security technology, and a fully integrated supplier of secure and highly engineered banknotes for central banks all over the world. The purchase price represents approximately 8.5x Crane Currency’s estimated 2017 adjusted EBITDA of $94m. (Please see the attached Non-GAAP Financial Measures tables.)
Max Mitchell, President and Chief Executive Officer of Crane Co., said: “We are extremely excited to announce this transaction, which will be Crane Co.’s second largest ever, and brings together two companies with nearly 380 years of combined history. Crane Currency is the fastest growing, fully integrated global currency provider in the growing global banknote supply and security industry. Making it part of Crane Co. is a logical extension of our expanding presence in the currency and payment markets. Our combined businesses will be able to offer end-to-end currency and security solutions, from substrate manufacturing and banknote design and printing to micro-optics and banknote validation.”
Crane Currency is expected to have 2017 sales of approximately $500m with adjusted EBITDA of $94m.
Mr. Mitchell continued: “This transaction meets all of Crane Co.’s strategic and financial criteria for acquisitions, and we believe it provides us a path to greater than 10% adjusted EPS growth annually for the next several years.”
The purchase of Crane Currency is contingent upon regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. Crane Co. intends to finance the acquisition through a combination of cash on hand and additional debt. Commitments are in place to cover 100 per cent of the financing needs in order to facilitate the closing of the transaction, which is expected to take place early in the first quarter of 2018.
Mr. Mitchell concluded: “I would also like to acknowledge the effort and success of the extended Crane family, as well as the current Crane Currency management team led by CEO Stephen DeFalco. Over the past 15 years, they have transformed Crane Currency from a U.S. focused substrate manufacturer to a global leader in micro-optics and currency security solutions, as well as banknote design and printing. We are honored to welcome Crane Currency, with its strong legacy and track record, into our company, Crane Co.”
