DuPont To Acquire Memcor Membrane Product Line From Evoqua

DuPont de Nemours, Inc. (NYSE:DD) has agreed to purchase the Memcor business including ultrafiltration and membrane biofiltration technologies from Evoqua Water Technologies Corp. The financial terms of the transaction were not divulged.

The deal includes Memcor membrane product line’s global workforce, its manufacturing site in Windsor, Australia, as well as related operations and intellectual property. The product line represents more than three decades of expertise in membranes and systems for municipal drinking water and wastewater reuse and applications.

The transaction, which is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory clearances, is expected to close by the end of this year. DuPont noted that the buyout is in sync with its commitment to invest in specialty solutions aligned with attractive, high-growth end markets.

The ultrafiltration and membrane biofiltration technologies of Evoqua add to DuPont's portfolio of water purification and separation capabilities that includes ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis and ion exchange resins. Per DuPont, the acquisition opens the company’s Water Solutions business to additional market spaces including membrane bioreactors, submerged and pressurized ultrafiltration systems.

DuPont’s Safety & Construction unit, last month, also agreed to purchase the ultrafiltration membrane business from German chemical giant, BASF SE (DE:BASFN). The acquisition includes the shares of inge GmbH, the international workforce of the business, its headquarters and production site in Greifenberg, Germany and specific intellectual property currently owned by BASF.

The transaction is expected to complete by the end of this year. The buyout will expand DuPont's water purification capabilities.

BASF’s ultrafiltration technology complements DuPont’s high-flow PVDF technology. In addition to expanding DuPont’s portfolio, the acquisition will enhance the company’s ability to design solutions for drinking water, industrial and waste water treatment applications on a worldwide basis.

The company noted that the buyout of Evoqua’s membrane business along with the acquisition of BASF's ultrafiltration business will better position it to offer the products, technology and geographic diversification required to address current and future customer demand.

DuPont’s shares are down around 10.5% since it started trading as a stand-alone company on the NYSE on Jun 3, 2019, compared with the roughly 3.2% decline recorded by the industry.

Zacks Rank & Key Picks

DuPont currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Better-ranked stocks worth a look in the basic materials space include Arconic Inc (NYSE:ARNC) , Kinross Gold Corporation (NYSE:KGC) and Alamos Gold Inc. (TSX:AGI) , all sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

Arconic has an estimated earnings growth rate of 50% for the current year. Its shares have moved up 9% in the past year. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Kinross has projected earnings growth rate of 170% for the current year. The company’s shares have surged around 74% in a year’s time.

Alamos Gold has estimated earnings growth rate of 340% for the current year. The company’s shares have rallied roughly 24% in a year’s time.

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