February 24, 2022

Zurn Water Solutions Corp. (NYSE: ZWS), a market leader in smart, sustainable water solutions and products, and Elkay Manufacturing Co., a market leader in the highly attractive and growing commercial drinking water solutions business, announced they have reached a definitive agreement to combine the businesses in an all-stock transaction. Upon completion of the transaction, Zurn Water Solutions shareholders will own approximately 71% and Elkay shareholders will own approximately 29% of the combined and newly named company – Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corp. 

“This transaction is a true game-changer as we create an even stronger pure play water company by combining with the iconic brand, Elkay,” said Todd A. Adams, chairman and CEO of Zurn Water Solutions. “The combination puts us well on our way to doubling the size of the business over the next couple of years while enhancing our competitive advantage within specified water solutions. We also add the high-growth, and increasingly essential, drinking water sector in our portfolio and have a clear path to capitalize on the significant synergies the combination will generate.

“Elkay is viewed as the ‘gold standard’ in providing clean drinking water within institutional and commercial buildings. What makes the combination so compelling is the alignment of our shared values and cultures, commitment to serving our customers and what we can accomplish together by providing an even more comprehensive package of innovative, specified water solutions that provide water safety, water quality and water conservation to critical verticals like education and healthcare.

“I want to thank Ron Katz, senior member of the founding family, and Tim Jahnke, chairman of Elkay, for believing in the power of the combination and the entire Elkay family for their confidence and commitment to work together to create something special. It’s our intent to preserve the strong culture and values at Elkay and we are excited to build upon the incredible legacies of both businesses as we come together to create an even brighter future as Zurn Elkay Water Solutions.”

Elkay has been family-owned since it was founded in 1920 and has been making innovative products and delivering exceptional customer service for more than 100 years. Headquartered in Illinois, Elkay has similar midwestern core values as Zurn. While the business started in sinks, their continued innovation and growth has led them to currently being a market leader in drinking water as well as sinks in residential and commercial settings.

“We knew we could increase our long-term competitive position by combining with another complementary brand,” stated Ron Katz, senior member of the founding family. “We were pleased to find a well-respected partner in Zurn Water Solutions, with their strong, people-centric midwestern values and deep commitment to quality, ethics and customer satisfaction that mirrors our own.”

According to Adams, Zurn and Elkay will also provide customers with the capability to advance their ESG initiatives while reducing their overall initial and operating costs while providing a safe, clean environment for students, patients, patrons, and people within the public and private spaces they operate. The new partners believe this combination creates an attractive platform to provide superior shareholder value as the combination allows for increased growth, margin expansion, higher free cash flow and improved leverage all while providing ample room for continued investments in growth.

Governance and Locations

Upon closing, the combined company will continue to be led by the existing Zurn Water Solutions Board of Directors with the addition of two new directors who currently serve on the Elkay Board of Directors. Todd Adams will remain chairman and CEO, Craig Wehr will remain president of Zurn Water Solutions, and Ted Hamilton will remain president of Elkay Plumbing.

The combined company will continue to trade under the ticker NYSE: ZWS. It will be headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and will continue to maintain a presence in the Chicago area where Elkay is headquartered.