Bosch in $1.15 billion acquisition of SPX Corporation

311 Bosch Automotive Aftermarket division is in the process of undertaking its largest ever acquisition with plans to acquire the service solutions business of US-headquartered SPX Corporation which develops, manufactures and sells diagnostic and service tools, workshop equipment, and software for the global automotive aftermarket. For 2011, the business, based in Warren, Missouri and which employs some 2,700 people in 17 countries, primarily in the US, Germany, France, and China, is expected to generate sales of approximately US$920 million dollars. The purchase price, which amounts to US$1.15 billion dollars (around €883 million), makes the planned acquisition the largest in the history of the Bosch Automotive Aftermarket division.

“Acquiring SPX Service Solutions will help make Bosch one of the leading providers of diagnostic solutions,” said Robert Hanser, president of the Automotive Aftermarket division. “The acquisition will allow us to considerably expand our market presence in the diagnostics business, particularly in North America. In addition, we will strengthen our position in Asia Pacific and Europe, especially in our diagnostics business with automakers.”