Rolls-Royce and Woodward, Inc. Announce Agreement for Woodward to Acquire L’Orange, a World Class Fuel Injection Systems Technology Company
9 April 2018
Rolls-Royce (London: RR.) and Woodward, Inc. (NASDAQ: WWD) jointly announced today that they have signed an agreement for Woodward to acquireL’Orange GmbH and its related operations located in Germany, the United States and China (“L’Orange”), for an enterprise value of €700 million (US$859 million1). L’Orange is part of Rolls-Royce, the power solutions provider, and specifically its Rolls-Royce Power Systems business.
Transaction scope and highlights
L’Orange supplies fuel injection technology for engines that power a wide range of industrial applications including marine power and propulsion systems, special-application vehicles, oil and gas processing, and power generation. L’Orange serves some of the world’s best known specialist diesel engine manufacturers, including Rolls-Royce Power Systems’ leading subsidiaries, MTU Friedrichshafen and Bergen Engines, and other low to high speed engine builders.
Woodward is an independent designer, manufacturer, and service provider of control system solutions and components for the aerospace and industrial markets. L’Orange, which will be renamed Woodward L’Orange, will be integrated into Woodward’s Industrial segment. The acquisition establishes Woodward as a premier technology and system provider of engine control systems to the industrial engine market. Additionally, the highly complementary portfolio allows for further expansion into key industrial segments and geographies, while boosting profitability. L’Orange will remain an important partner and supplier for MTU and Bergen in the future through long-term supply agreements, with an initial term of 15 years, allowing Rolls-Royce Power Systems’ customers to continue to benefit from L’Orange’s high level of expertise, best-in-class service, and innovative R&D.
Warren East, CEO of Rolls-Royce, said: “This transaction builds on the actions we have taken over the last two years to simplify our business. The divestiture of L’Orange enables Rolls-Royce Power Systems to focus on other long term, high growth opportunities and our company to allocate our capital to core technologies and businesses that drive greater returns for the group.”
Andreas Schell, President and CEO of Rolls-Royce Power Systems, added: “Rolls-Royce Power Systems will remain a key customer of Woodward L’Orange. We have enjoyed working with L’Orange who have a leading position in their markets, excellent technology, a skilled workforce and strong leadership. We wish them well for the future as they join the Woodward organisation.”
Thomas A. Gendron, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Woodward, said: “L’Orange is an excellent strategic and financial fit for Woodward, and this transaction exemplifies our acquisition strategy to invest in markets with solid long-term fundamentals. The acquisition of L’Orange brings innovative technology, bolsters relationships with key customers and enhances the profitability of our Industrial segment.”
Rolls-Royce confirmed in January 2018 that it was reviewing its strategic options for L’Orange. The sale to Woodward will enable the L’Orange business to pursue new market opportunities that will be opened up as a result of no longer being associated directly with one individual engine manufacturer. Together, Woodward and L’Orange will be able to expand their customer base, pursue further collaborations and explore new areas of opportunity.
The transaction has been approved by the boards of directors of both Rolls-Royce and Woodward, as well as the Supervisory Board of Rolls-Royce Power Systems. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the second quarter of calendar 2018, subject to clearance from the German antitrust authorities.
L’Orange is based in Stuttgart, Germany and has approximately 1,000 employees based mostly in Germany, but also in the U.S. and China.
Headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado, US, Woodward reported 2017 sales of approximately US$2.1 billion and has approximately 7,400 employees worldwide.
Notes
1 Based on USD / EUR exchange rate of 1.2275.
About Rolls-Royce
About Rolls-Royce Power Systems
Rolls-Royce Power Systems is headquartered in Friedrichshafen in southern Germany and employs around 10,000 people. The product portfolio includes MTU-brand high-speed engines and propulsion systems for ships, power generation, heavy land, rail and defence vehicles and for the oil and gas industry. Under the MTU Onsite Energy brand, the company markets diesel gensets for emergency, base load and peak load applications as well as cogeneration plants using gas engines for the combined generation of heat and power. Bergen medium-speed engines power ships and power generation applications.
About Woodward
Woodward is an independent designer, manufacturer, and service provider of control solutions for the aerospace and industrial markets. The company’s innovative fluid, combustion, electrical, and motion control systems help customers offer cleaner, more reliable, and more efficient equipment. Woodward’s customers include leading original equipment manufacturers and end users of their products. Woodward is a global company headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado, USA. Visit Woodward’s website at www.woodward.com, and connect with Woodward at www.facebook.com/woodwardinc.
Contacts Rolls-Royce Investors: Jennifer Ramsey +44 20 7227 9087 Ross Hawley +44 20 7227 9282
Media: Richard Wray +44 20 7227 9163
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Woodward
Don Guzzardo Corporate Director, Investor Relations & Treasury +1 970-498-3580 |
Rolls-Royce Power Systems
Wolfgang Boller +49 7541 90-2159 |
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