ABB completes acquisition of GE Industrial Solutions

ABB has completed the acquisition of GE Industrial Solutions (GEIS), GE’s global electrification solutions business. 

“The combination reinforces ABB’s position as a worldwide leader in electrification and accelerates our growth and competitiveness in key markets, particularly North America. As one of Thomas Edison’s original businesses, GEIS is the cradle of electrification — a legacy that we will preserve and build on now that GEIS is part of ABB,” said ABB CEO Ulrich Spiesshofer. 

GEIS will be integrated into ABB’s Electrification Products (EP) division, led by EP President Tarak Mehta, as a new business unit called Electrification Products Industrial Solutions (EPIS). Stephanie Mains, who was previously president and CEO of the GE Industrial Solutions business, will lead the new business unit as Managing Director. As part of the transaction, ABB has established a long-term strategic supply relationship with GE to supply it with products and solutions from across the ABB portfolio. Included in the acquisition is a long-term right to use the GE brand.

“The product portfolios of GE Industrial Solutions and ABB are highly complementary. Together we will have a comprehensive combined portfolio, as well as an expanded global footprint, sales force and distribution network,” said Mehta. “We are committed to servicing the GEIS installed base and will now be able to provide a more technologically advanced and digitally connected offering to our customers around the world. Together we will strengthen ABB’s number two position in electrification globally and expand our access to the attractive North American market.”

The transaction was announced on 25 September 2017 and is expected to be accretive to operational EPS in the first year. The $2.6 billion transaction offers substantial value creation potential within ABB, including growth opportunities to be leveraged from coupling ABB’s digital offering, ABB Ability, with the extensive GEIS installed base. ABB expects to realise approximately $200 million of annual cost synergies in year five, which will be key in bringing GEIS to peer performance.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Sergey Nivens