v3.26.1
Acquisitions and Dispositions
12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2026
Acquisitions and Dispositions.  
Acquisitions and Dispositions

Note 2:  Acquisitions and Dispositions

The Company accounts for acquired businesses using the acquisition method and records assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their respective fair values. The excess of the purchase price over the allocated amount is recorded as goodwill.

Fiscal 2026 Acquisitions

The Company acquired three businesses during fiscal 2026: AbsolutAire, Inc. (“AbsolutAire”), LBW Holding Corp. (“L.B. White”), and Climate by Design International (“Climate by Design”). Since the date of each acquisition, the Company has reported the financial results of these businesses within the Climate Solutions segment. During fiscal 2026, the operating results for the acquired companies were not material. The Company has not presented supplemental pro forma financial information for these acquisitions since they are not material, individually or in the aggregate, to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

AbsolutAire

On April 1, 2025, the Company acquired substantially all of the net operating assets of AbsolutAire for consideration totaling $11.3 million. AbsolutAire is a Michigan-based manufacturer of direct-fired heating, ventilation, and make-up air systems. This acquisition supports the Company’s growth strategy by expanding its heating and indoor air quality product portfolios and also broadens its customer base in the commercial, industrial, food service, and warehousing sectors. During fiscal 2026, the Company included net sales of $24.8 million within its consolidated statement of operations attributable to AbsolutAire.

The Company’s allocation of the purchase price for its acquisition of AbsolutAire was as follows:

Trade accounts receivable

$

3.4

Inventories

 

3.9

Property, plant and equipment

 

2.8

Intangible assets

 

2.2

Goodwill

 

1.1

Accounts payable

 

(1.2)

Accrued compensation and employee benefits

 

(0.4)

Other liabilities

 

(0.5)

Purchase price

$

11.3

The Company recorded $2.2 million of intangible assets, including customer relationship and trade name assets. The Company is amortizing the acquired intangible assets using a weighted-average life of approximately eleven years. The Company allocated the excess of the purchase price over the net assets recognized to goodwill in the amount of $1.1 million, which is expected to be deductible for income tax purposes.

L.B. White

On May 31, 2025, the Company acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of L.B. White for consideration totaling $110.5 million ($107.7 million net of cash acquired). The Company primarily utilized its revolving credit facility to fund the purchase price.

Headquartered in Wisconsin, with additional manufacturing and distribution operations in Georgia, L.B. White is a leading provider of specialty heating solutions, including direct-fired forced air, radiant, indirect-fired, and electric heating solutions, for the agriculture, construction, and special event industries. L.B. White holds a leading position in the swine and poultry agricultural heating markets in North America and is a market leader in portables heating. This acquisition expands the Company’s product portfolio and also broadens its network into adjacent heating markets. During fiscal 2026, the Company included net sales of $63.8 million within its consolidated statement of operations attributable to L.B. White.

The Company’s allocation of the purchase price for its acquisition of L.B. White was as follows:

Cash and cash equivalents

  ​ ​ ​

$

2.8

Trade accounts receivable

 

10.2

Inventories

 

17.1

Property, plant and equipment

 

15.9

Intangible assets

 

50.1

Goodwill

 

27.1

Other assets

 

1.0

Accounts payable

 

(1.8)

Accrued compensation and employee benefits

 

(1.9)

Deferred income taxes

 

(8.3)

Other liabilities

 

(1.7)

Purchase price

$

110.5

The Company engaged third-party valuation specialists to assist in estimating the fair value of assets acquired. The third-party valuations utilized assumptions developed by management and other information compiled by management, including, but not limited to, future expected cash flows. The Company allocated the excess of the purchase price over the net assets recognized to goodwill in the amount of $27.1 million, none of which is expected to be deductible for income tax purposes. Goodwill represents the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired that could not be individually identified and separately recognized. The goodwill recorded as part of the acquisition includes L.B. White’s workforce and anticipated future revenue and cost synergies.

Below is a summary of the methodologies and significant assumptions used within the third-party valuations for estimating the fair value of certain classes of acquired assets. The fair values were primarily based upon significant inputs that are not observable in the market and thus represent Level 3 measurements. See Note 4 for information regarding Level 3 fair value measurements.

Inventories: The Company determined the fair value of acquired work-in-process and finished goods inventory using both the comparative sales and cost of reproduction valuation methods. For raw materials acquired, the Company estimated the cost of replacement. In total, the Company wrote-up acquired inventory by $1.0 million and charged it to cost of sales during fiscal 2026 as the underlying inventory was sold.

Property, plant and equipment: The Company valued the land and facilities acquired using the cost approach. The cost approach included consideration of recent sales of comparable land parcels and estimated replacement costs for structures and site improvements, adjusting such values for estimated depreciation as of the acquisition date. The cost approach relies on assumptions regarding replacement costs and the age and estimated remaining useful lives of the assets. For personal property, which primarily consists of machinery and equipment assets, the Company utilized the market valuation approach that considers values for similar assets on secondary equipment markets. The fair value of property, plant and equipment will be recognized as depreciation expense in the Company’s results of operations over the expected remaining useful lives of the assets.

Intangible assets: The Company determined the fair value of acquired intangible assets by using variations of the income approach. These methods generally forecast expected future net cash flows associated with each of the identified intangible assets and adjust the forecasts to present value by applying a discount rate intended to reflect risk factors associated with the cash flows and the time value of money. Acquired intangible assets were as follows:

 Gross Carrying Value

Weighted- Average Useful Life

Customer relationships

$

38.5

14 years

Trade name

 

11.6

20 years

Total intangible assets acquired

$

50.1

Customer relationships represent the estimated fair value of L.B. White’s business relationships with existing customers, the majority of which are dealers and/or distributors in the agriculture and portable heating markets. The fair value of customer relationships was determined using the multi-period excess earnings method, in which the value is derived by projecting the future anticipated after-tax cash flows attributable to the customer relationships. Key inputs used in the valuation included future revenue growth rates, customer attrition rates, and discount rates.

The Company determined the estimated fair value of the acquired L.B. White trade name using the relief-from-royalty method, which applies an assumed royalty rate to revenue expected to be derived under the acquired trade name. The fair value was estimated to be the present value of the royalties saved because the Company owns the trade name.

Climate by Design

On July 1, 2025, the Company acquired Climate by Design for $64.4 million ($63.4 million net of cash acquired). The Company primarily utilized its revolving credit facility to fund the purchase price.

Based in Minnesota, Climate by Design specializes in desiccant dehumidification technology and critical process air handlers. This acquisition supports the Company’s growth strategy by expanding its commercial indoor air quality product portfolio. During fiscal 2026, the Company included $30.5 million of net sales within its consolidated statement of operations attributable to Climate by Design.

The Company’s allocation of the purchase price for its acquisition of Climate by Design was as follows:

Cash and cash equivalents

  ​ ​ ​

$

1.0

Trade accounts receivable

 

7.3

Inventories

 

10.1

Property, plant and equipment

 

10.5

Intangible assets

 

15.0

Goodwill

 

23.6

Other assets

 

10.4

Accounts payable

 

(1.8)

Accrued compensation and employee benefits

 

(1.0)

Other liabilities

 

(10.7)

Purchase price

$

64.4

The Company engaged third-party valuation specialists to assist in estimating the fair value of assets acquired. The third-party valuations utilized assumptions developed by management and other information compiled by management, including, but not limited to, future expected cash flows. The Company allocated the excess of the purchase price over the net assets recognized to goodwill in the amount of $23.6 million. Goodwill represents the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired that could not be individually identified and separately recognized. The goodwill recorded as part of the acquisition includes Climate by Design’s workforce and anticipated future revenue and cost synergies. Goodwill is expected to be deductible for income tax purposes.

Below is a summary of the methodologies and significant assumptions used within the third-party valuations for estimating the fair value of certain classes of acquired assets. The fair values were primarily based upon significant inputs that are not observable in the market and thus represent Level 3 measurements. See Note 4 for information regarding Level 3 fair value measurements.

Inventories: The Company estimated the fair value of acquired work-in-process and finished goods inventory using both the comparative sales and cost of reproduction valuation methods. For raw materials acquired, the Company estimated the cost of replacement. The Company wrote-up acquired inventory by $0.3 million. The Company charged the write-up to cost of sales during fiscal 2026 as the underlying inventory was sold.

Intangible assets: The Company estimated the fair value of acquired intangible assets by using variations of the income approach. These methods generally forecast expected future net cash flows associated with each of the identified intangible assets and adjust the forecasts to present value by applying a discount rate intended to reflect risk factors associated with the cash flows and the time value of money. Acquired intangible assets were as follows:

 Gross Carrying Value

Weighted- Average Useful Life

Customer relationships

$

8.3

10 years

Acquired technology

 

3.5

10 years

Trade name

 

3.2

10 years

Total intangible assets acquired

$

15.0

Customer relationships represent the estimated fair value of Climate by Design’s business relationships with existing customers. The fair value of customer relationships was estimated using the multi-period excess earnings method, in which the value is derived by projecting the future anticipated after-tax cash flows attributable to the customer relationships. Key inputs used in the valuation included future revenue growth rates, customer attrition rates, and discount rates.

The Company estimated the fair value of the acquired Climate by Design technology using the relief-from-royalty method, considering estimated royalties that would hypothetically be paid to use the technology.

The Company estimated the fair value of the acquired Climate by Design trade name using the relief-from-royalty method, which applies an assumed royalty rate to revenue expected to be derived under the acquired trade name. The fair value was estimated to be the present value of the royalties saved because the Company owns the trade name.

Fiscal 2024 Acquisitions

The Company acquired the Scott Springfield Mfg. Inc. (“Scott Springfield Manufacturing”) and Napps Technology Corporation (“Napps”) businesses during fiscal 2024. In addition, the Company purchased intellectual property and related assets from TMGcore, Inc.

Scott Springfield Manufacturing

On March 1, 2024, the Company acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares in the capital of Scott Springfield Manufacturing for consideration totaling $184.1 million. Upon finalization of the working capital adjustment during fiscal 2025, the Company paid an additional $2.4 million to the seller. Based in Calgary, Canada, Scott Springfield Manufacturing is a leading manufacturer of air handling units to customers in the data center, telecommunications, healthcare, and aerospace markets. This acquisition expanded the Company’s product offerings and customer base in the high-growth data center and indoor air quality markets in the U.S. and Canada. Since the date of the acquisition, the Company has reported the financial results of the Scott Springfield Manufacturing business within the Climate Solutions segment.

Napps

On July 1, 2023, the Company acquired substantially all of the net operating assets of Napps, a Texas-based manufacturer of air- and water-cooled chillers, condensing units and heat pumps, for consideration totaling $5.8 million. The Company paid $4.8 million during fiscal 2024 and paid the remaining $1.0 million to the seller during fiscal 2025. The Company has reported the financial results of the Napps business within the Climate Solutions segment since the date of the acquisition. 

TMGcore, Inc. intellectual property

In January 2024, the Company purchased intellectual property and other related assets from TMGcore, Inc., a specialist in single- and two-phase liquid immersion cooling technology for data centers for $12.0 million.

Dispositions

During fiscal 2022, the Company sold its Austrian automotive business. To facilitate the closing of this sale, the Company provided the buyer with a loan facility.  During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, the Company and the buyer settled the loan facility for less than the principal balance outstanding. As a result, the Company recorded a loss of $3.9 million during fiscal 2026 to write-off the remaining loan receivable. The Company has reported this loss within the loss on sale of assets line on its consolidated statement of operations.

In October 2023, the Company sold three automotive businesses based in Germany (the “disposal group”) to affiliates of Regent, L.P. As a result of the sale, the Company recorded a $4.0 million gain on sale during fiscal 2024, primarily driven by the net liability position of the disposal group at the time of sale. In addition, the gain on sale included the write-off of $0.6 million of net actuarial gains related to the disposal group’s pension plans. The Company reported the $4.0 million gain on the gain on sale of assets line within the consolidated statement of operations. Prior to the disposition, the Company reported the financial results of the disposal group within the Performance Technologies segment. Net sales of the disposal group included within the Company’s consolidated statement of operations for fiscal 2024 totaled $54.2 million.

Pending Reverse Morris Trust transaction

In January 2026, the Company and Gentherm Incorporated (“Gentherm”) announced that they had entered into definitive agreements whereby the Company will spin-off and simultaneously combine its Performance Technologies segment businesses with Gentherm in a Reverse Morris Trust transaction. Gentherm, a Michigan-based corporation, is a global leader of innovative thermal management and pneumatic comfort technologies. The transaction is intended to establish Gentherm as a scaled leader in thermal management. The Company will retain its Climate Solutions segment businesses, creating a pure-play climate solutions company focused on the data center and commercial HVAC&R markets.

Under the terms of the agreements, at the time of the spin-off of its Performance Technologies segment businesses, the Company’s shareholders will receive newly-issued Gentherm stock, representing ownership of approximately 40 percent of the combined company. In addition, immediately prior to transaction closing, the Company is to receive cash proceeds of $210.0 million, subject to adjustment. Based upon the Gentherm stock price, the transaction was valued at approximately $1.0 billion when the Company entered into the agreement. The Company anticipates this transaction will close by the end of calendar 2026, subject to approval by Gentherm’s shareholders and other closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. Under the Reverse Morris Trust structure, the transaction is intended to be generally tax-free for U.S. federal income tax purposes for the Company and its shareholders.

Since the pending spin-off does not constitute a sale under U.S. GAAP, the Company has not classified the assets and liabilities of its Performance Technologies segment as held for sale on its March 31, 2026 consolidated balance sheet. However, the Company expects to classify the Performance Technologies segment as a discontinued operation starting in the period the transaction is completed.

Pending sale of facilities in Germany

In fiscal 2025, the Company signed a definitive agreement to sell its technical service center and administrative support facility in Germany to a real estate investment firm. The Company closed the technical service center earlier in fiscal 2025 and reduced headcount in light of the sale of three automotive businesses in Germany during fiscal 2024. During fiscal 2026 and based upon a lower expected selling price of approximately $5.0 million in light of market and other transaction-specific factors, the Company estimated an implied loss in excess of the building and related assets’ carrying value. As a result, the Company recorded a non-cash impairment charge of $4.1 million during fiscal 2026. As of March 31, 2026 and 2025, the Company classified $4.6 million and $8.2 million, respectively, of building and related assets as held for sale and presented them within other current assets on its consolidated balance sheets. The Company expects the sale transaction will close during fiscal 2027.