Actuant Corporation announced September 17 the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire the stock of the Cortland Companies from an investor group lead by Cortec Group. The purchase is subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions, and is expected to close within 30 days. Total consideration for the transaction is approximately $230 million which will be funded from the company’s cash and revolving credit facility.
Headquartered in Cortland, N.Y., Cortland is a global designer, manufacturer and distributor of custom-engineered electro-mechanical cables and umbilicals, high performance synthetic ropes and value-added steel cable and assemblies. Cortland’s products are utilized in critical applications in end markets including offshore oil and gas, marine geophysical survey, commercial diving, marine transport, medical, security, defense and aerospace. With five facilities across three continents, Cortland is expected to generate approximately $100 million in revenue this calendar year.
Commenting on the transaction, Robert C. Arzbaecher, Actuant’s chief executive officer stated, “Cortland represents a great addition to Actuant’s diversified business portfolio. Its niche leadership position, strong management team and global customer relationships are an ideal fit with our business model. Highly engineered umbilicals and cables provide a critical link between the ocean’s surface and floor, many times in mission critical situations. With more than half of its revenues derived from the global offshore oil and gas market, Cortland extends our presence in this served market in a meaningful way, complementing Hydratight’s geographic breadth and customer relationships. Cortland’s business has historically grown faster than Actuant’s stated 1.5 to 2.0 times GDP growth objective, and given oil and gas industries’ focus on offshore and deep-water drilling on a global basis, we expect this trend to continue.”
The majority of the Cortland businesses will operate within Actuant’s Industrial segment. Cortland’s Sanlo product line, an engineered cable applications business, will operate as part of Actuant’s Elliott Manufacturing business included in the Actuation Systems segment.
Actuant, headquartered in Butler, Wis., is a diversified industrial company with operations in more than 30 countries. The Actuant businesses are market leaders in highly engineered position and motion control systems and branded hydraulic and electrical tools and supplies. Since its creation through a spinoff in 2000, Actuant has grown its sales from $482 million to more than $1.6 billion and its market capitalization from $113 million to $1.6 billion. The company employs a workforce of more than 7,500 worldwide.
