Atlas Copco Italia S.p.A. last week announced it received conditional approval from the anti-trust authorities to acquire the industrial division of the ABAC Group S.p.A. ABAC had a volume in 2006 of approximately US $243.5 million and 650 employees. The estimated operating profit margin in 2006 was around 10 percent. The acquisition is scheduled to close on April 2.


The ABAC Group, headquartered in Turin, Italy, is a manufacturer of piston compressors for the industrial market via the ABAC, BALMA and AGRE brands. It has a solid presence in the screw compressor market via the ALUP, ABAC and BALMA brands. The group has successfully established a presence in the distribution of compressors for small and medium-sized industries and the automotive aftermarket.

For Germany, the conditions consist of divestment of the German sales and service organization of ALUP GmbH. If the acquirer does not have a production site of compressors in Germany, Atlas Copco is also required to divest the production site of ALUP GmbH in Köngen. The acquirer will have the right to use the ALUP brand in the German market exclusively for five years.

For Austria, the conditions consist of the divestment of the AGRE brand name for screw compressors.

ABAC will become part of Atlas Copco Compressor Technique’s industrial air division.

The consumer division of the ABAC Group, led by the company Nu Air Compressors and Tools, will remain under the control of the current group.

Industrial Air is a division within Atlas Copco's Compressor Technique business area. It develops, manufactures and markets oil-injected and oil-free air compressors and air-quality solutions worldwide, under several brands for a variety of industries. The divisional headquarters and main production center are located in Antwerp, Belgium.