(By Balachander) Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL) lifted its earnings forecast for the third quarter, and the provider of cleaners and sanitizers agreed to acquire privately-held Champion Technologies for roughly $2.2 billion in a cash and stock deal.
The St. Paul, Minnesota-based company expects the deal to add to earnings, growth in sales and EBITDA margins as well as strengthen its North American business.
Ecolab will pay around $1.7 billion in cash and issue roughly 8 million shares.
"Champion's technology and product strengths in the U.S. and Canada are very complementary to our innovative technology and services in the offshore and international energy markets," commented Douglas Baker, Ecolab's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
Ecolab expects to realize attractive synergies from the deal totaling a run-rate of around $150 million by the end of 2015.
Houston, Texas-based Champion, which has 3,300 employees, offers energy specialty products and services with sales of $1.2 billion in 2011. It
Meanwhile, Ecolab said it now expects adjusted earnings per share for the third quarter to be $0.87, at the higher end of its prior forecast and represents a rise of 16 percent from the year-ago period. The company's current outlook is in-line with market expectations.
The deal is expected to be completed by the end of 2012.
The stock, which has been trading in the 52-week range of $51.41 to $68.96, ended at $63.67 on Thursday.