Crane Company Buying Precision Sensors In $1.06 Billion Deal

By Amit Chowdhry • Today at 12:41 PM

Crane Company announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire Precision Sensors & Instrumentation (PSI), a leading provider of sensor-based technologies for aerospace, nuclear and process industries, from Baker Hughes for $1,06 billion after adjusting for expected tax benefits with an estimated net present value of approximately $90 million.

PSI is expected to have 2025 sales of about $390 million, with adjusted EBITDA of approximately $60 million.

The purchase of PSI is contingent on regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. Crane Company plans to finance the acquisition with a combination of cash on hand and additional debt. And the acquisition is currently expected to close at the end of 2025 or early 2026.

KEY QUOTES:

“PSI is a unique asset with three iconic brands that are highly complementary to both of our segments.”

“Within our Aerospace & Electronics segment, the addition of the Druck brand meaningfully strengthens our pressure sensing capabilities across critical applications—including environmental control systems, hydraulics, and engine monitoring—with strong positions in both single-aisle and widebody aircraft platforms. Additionally, Druck expands our presence into ground-based test and calibration equipment, further extending our technological capabilities and market reach.”

“Within our Process Flow Technologies segment, the addition of Reuter-Stokes will double the size and capabilities of our existing Crane Nuclear business. With its industry-leading radiation sensing and detection technologies, Reuter-Stokes enhances our offerings for nuclear plant operations and homeland security. It also positions us strongly to capitalize on the renewed global investment in nuclear energy. The Panametrics business adds pioneering technologies to our portfolio, including advanced ultrasonic flow meters and precision moisture analyzers. These solutions support critical process industries by enabling accurate measurement of liquids and gases across applications such as chemical production, LNG transportation, cryogenic gas storage, pipelines, refining, water and wastewater treatment facilities, and other essential industrial processes.”

“The bottom line is that PSI is a global leader in highly sophisticated sensor-based technologies for mission critical applications in harsh and hazardous environments. These businesses are a perfect fit with Crane’s existing portfolio, enhancing our product portfolio and technology capabilities in key target markets including aerospace & defense, nuclear, industrial process sensing, and water and wastewater.”

“Consistent with our unwavering focus on driving shareholder value, this transaction meets all of Crane Company’s strategic and financial criteria, including a 10% ROIC by year five. We expect PSI to deliver long-term sales growth consistent with Crane’s current profile in the 4% to 6% range, with operating profit leveraging at approximately 35%. In addition, over the next several years, we expect margin expansion from deployment of the Crane Business System, driving both commercial and operational excellence initiatives, and building on the already strong execution and leadership in their respective markets. Following the acquisition, we estimate that Crane will have a net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio of approximately 1x, leaving us with substantial capacity for further acquisitions. I would like to thank the entire Baker Hughes leadership team for their professionalism and support during this process and we look forward to working a smooth and seamless transition.”

Max H. Mitchell, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Crane Company

“The PSI acquisition is an important next step in our multi-year, ongoing portfolio evolution. Since our April 2023 separation, we have continued to focus on highly-engineered products for mission-critical applications with a higher growth and higher gross margin profile. We have a proven track record of creating value through acquisitions, and we believe that the strong fit of PSI with our existing business, combined with our consistently differentiated execution, will drive attractive financial returns.”

Alex Alcala, Crane’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer