MRC Global Acquires MSD Engineering - Analyst Blog

MRC Global Inc. MRC continued its acquisition spree with a strategic purchase to boost its existing portfolio. The company announced that its Singapore subsidiary, MRC Transmark Pte. Ltd., has acquired MSD Engineering (Pte) Limited. The value of the deal was not disclosed.

Based in Singapore, MSD Engineering distributes and provides valve and valve automation solutions. Its customers are based in Singapore as well as in Indonesia, Taiwan, Brunei, Malaysia, China, Vietnam and Thailand. The company generated sales of $26 million in 2013.

MSD Engineering offers a wide range of products including electro-hydraulic operated control and choke valves, butterfly and ball valves, gate and globe valves, gate, ball, globe, wafer check valves, swing check, electric or motor operated gate, globe and pneumatic and hydraulic solenoid valves. Following the acquisition, all legacy employees will continue working for the company, which will be renamed as MRC MSD Engineering.

The buyout is an initiative by MRC Global to enhance its presence in Southeast Asia and grow the valve and valve automation business. 

In a bid to expand its geographical footprint, the company had earlier announced its plans to acquire Hypteck in Norway in the same week. Established in 1903, Hypteck provides instrumentation and process control products to the onshore, offshore and marine industries.

With revenues of $38 million in 2013, the company has around 68 employees, who will become a part of MRC Global after the successful completion of the acquisition. Post-transaction, Hypteck will be known as MRC HypTeck.

We expect these acquisitions to be accretive to MRC Global's earnings in the coming quarters. With a market capitalization of $3.0 billion, MRC Global holds a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks worth considering in the industry include Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP BWP, Delek Logistics Partners, LP DKL and Targa Resources Partners LP NGLS. All of these companies sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).