ESAB Acquired by Colfax Corporation

A leader in the pump and fluid handling business acquires a popular welding brand.

Effective Friday, January 13, 2012, Charter International plc (Dublin, Ireland), owner of ESAB Welding & Cutting Products (Florence, SC), has been acquired by Colfax Corporation (Fulton, MD).

Colfax Corporation is a diversified industrial manufacturing company listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Charter International plc resided in Ireland and was the parent of two leading businesses: ESAB, a global leader in the welding products industry, and Howden (Renfrew, UK), a premier manufacturer of heavy-duty air and gas handling equipment.

“We are very excited about this acquisition,” said Andrew Masterman, the president and chief executive officer of ESAB North America. “Colfax Corporation is a leading manufacturing company with a proven operating system – the Colfax Business System – and is solidly focused on customer needs and the development of strong brands. This is a perfect fit for ESAB, as we are a world-class leader in the welding industry – a position we have attained by building strong partnerships with our customers and by creating a brand that is trusted worldwide.”

ESAB employs more than 8,500 people worldwide, and is one of the top manufacturers in the welding industry, which is worth approximately $10 billion per year. ESAB has sales and support locations in 80 countries, and 26 manufacturing facilities across 4 continents. ESAB’s North American headquarters is located in Florence.

“This acquisition will not impact our customers or distributors,” said Mark Elender, the senior vice president of sales and marketing for ESAB North America. “We will continue to provide our customers and distributors with the best products and support services, and we are confident that this transition will be seamless and beneficial to all.”

Colfax Corporation owns 10 brands in the pumping and fluid-handling market, and is traded on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “CFX.”

ESAB Welding & Cutting Products is one of the world’s largest and most experienced manufacturers of welding and cutting equipment and welding filler metals. Recognized as the technological leader in the industry, ESAB is committed to providing cost effective solutions for its customers. www.esabna.com