Fortune Brands has paid $160 million to private equity firm LDC (£131m) to add British shower manufacturer Aqualisa to its growing line-up of bathrooms brands.
The acquisition is intended to strengthen Fortune Brands’ strategic focus on smart technology and water innovations products, which includes bathroom products, brassware and sinks.
Aqualisa will join the other KBB brands in the Fortune Brands portfolio, including House of Rohl and its sub-brands Perrin and Rowe, Riobel, Victoria + Albert and Shaws.
Mat Norris, CEO at Aqualisa, said: “Fortune Brands has a proven track record of investing in brands, innovation and people. As part of Fortune Brands, we are excited for how we can enhance our service to our customers, trade professionals, partners and consumers.
“Now, we will have even more opportunities to pursue our mission of sustainably innovating the ultimate shower experience for generations to come. I want to thank our team members, our customers, and our investors LDC for their dedication and support.”
Fortune Brands chief executive Nicholas Fink said: “We are proactively positioning Fortune Brands for a future of increased brand and innovation strength and accelerated growth. With Aqualisa, we are gaining complementary brands and additional innovation capabilities, and we are advancing our key strategic focus on the super-charged categories in water. Aqualisa is a great fit within our business, and I look forward to what we will do together.”
Aqualisa was founded in 1977 and was the first to invent and produce digital showers. The bathroom manufacturer is known for its innovation in the smart bathroom category. In April 2022, Aqualisa launched the showroom exclusive brand Elisa with a range of new showers and a traditional mixer shower range.