American Industrial Partners Capital Fund IV, L.P. acquired the Brooks Instrument division of Emerson Electric Co. on December 31, 2007, forming a new company called Brooks Instrument, LLC. Brooks is a supplier of flow measurement and control devices to the low-flow application market. AIP is a private equity investment firm that applies an operational approach to building and improving middle-market companies.
Brooks is headquartered in Hatfield, Pa., with manufacturing locations in Hungary, France, the Netherlands and Japan. Its products are used to regulate the flow rates of gases and liquids in laboratory and process applications in end markets, such as life sciences, chemicals, semiconductor, analytical instruments, nuclear and solar cells. Brooks products include variable area meters, thermal mass flow meters, Coriolis flow meters, magnetic level gauges and float switches.
Brooks Instrument has all the attributes we look for in a portfolio investment: leading market positions, global demand, attractive end-market growth, proprietary technology, an attractive and capital efficient business model and a strong management team, said John Becker, a partner of American Industrial Partners who will serve as chairman of Brook Instrument. The Brooks management team has established a strong track record of growth and accomplishment. We believe our partnership can further accelerate the growth and profitability of this business.
American Industrial Partners partnered with HSBC in the acquisition of Brooks. Lenders to the transaction included GMAC Commercial Finance and AIG.
