Crompton Greaves buys French firm Sonomatra for Euro 1.3 million

Mumbai: Electric equipment manufacturer Crompton Greaves has announced the acquisition of French company Societe Nouvelle de Maintenance Transformateurs (Sonomatra) at an investmenet of around Euro 1.3 million.   

Crompton Greaves said in a regulatory filing that the acquisition would strengthen the company's capabilities in the services segment of its transmission and distribution business. Sonomatra is a service provider for on-site maintenance and repair of power transformers, on-load tap changers, oil analysis, oil treatment and retro-filling.

Crompton Greaves has been focusing the power systems, industrial systems and consumer products segments. It commands a fair amount of brand equity in the Indian market, and is identified with its fans and lighting business.

In 2005, Crompton Greaves had acquired Belgian company Pauwels and the Hungarian firm Ganz (GTV) and Transverticum Kft (TV). In 2006, it had acquired Microsol Holdings (MHL), and its associate companies in May 2007. This is the fourth international acquisition for the electrical equipment maker.

Its acquisition of Pauwels saw it gain access to Belgium, Ireland, Canada, the US and Indonesia, which were locations where Pauwels had manufacturing facilities. Hungary-based Ganz was a leading manufacturer of extra high voltage transformers, gas insulated switchgear and other related components, and is now part of Crompton Greaves post the 2005 acquisition.