Wabtec Corporation announced today that it has completed the acquisition of Evident’s Inspection Technologies division (Inspection Technologies), formerly part of the Scientific Solutions Division of Olympus Corporation, a global leader in Non-Destructive Testing, Remote Visual Inspection and Analytical Instruments solutions for mission critical assets.
This acquisition strengthens Wabtec’s Digital Intelligence business with industry-leading inspection technologies that enhance customer productivity, reliability, and safety, while also positioning the company for accelerated, profitable growth.
“Today, we are a stronger company with the addition of Inspection Technologies,” said Rafael Santana, President and CEO of Wabtec. “The acquisition expands and strengthens our Digital Intelligence business, with advanced products and services for the Company’s rail, mining, and industrial sectors, while broadening our reach into other high-growth, high-margin end-markets. It enhances Wabtec's existing portfolio, is accretive to key financial metrics, and aligns with the company's long-term vision to lead the industry in innovation for our customers.”
The strategic acquisition helps accelerate Wabtec's growth trajectory and meets the increasing demand for advanced diagnostic technologies. It also aligns with Wabtec’s stated growth drivers, including accelerating the innovation of scalable technologies, increasing the installed base, expanding high-margin recurring revenues, and driving continuous operational improvements. Additionally, acquiring Inspection Technologies expands Wabtec’s Digital Intelligence business growth opportunities and recurring revenue, effectively doubling the size of its total addressable market (TAM) from approximately US$8 billion to US$16 billion, while enhancing its ability to deliver innovative solutions to a broader range of customers.
“Inspection Technologies’ product portfolio strongly complements our existing digital technologies, while adding advanced automated inspection capabilities in a space where data acquisition, analytics, and automation are critical,” said Nalin Jain, President of Wabtec’s Digital Intelligence Group. “It will accelerate the development of scalable technologies by integrating advanced analytics, sensors, and AI technology to deliver enhanced predictive maintenance capabilities to our customers. Evident Inspection Technology employees have done a fantastic job in delivering these innovative technologies and I am looking forward to welcoming them to the Wabtec family.”
Wabtec acquired Evident’s Inspection Technologies division for US$1.78 billion (~US$1.68 billion after tax benefits).
The transaction was financed through a combination of cash on hand, newly issued term notes, plus term loans and short-term borrowing under the company’s credit agreement. The transaction is anticipated to provide immediate shareholder value with a high single-digit revenue growth outlook, accretive Adjusted EBIT margins and accretive return on invested capital (ROIC) over time. Additionally, the acquisition is projected to be slightly accretive to Adjusted EPS in the second half of 2025. The purchase price reflects an estimated multiple of 12.0x projected 2025 EBITDA adjusted for transaction and separation costs, anticipated tax benefits, and projected run-rate cost synergies of US$25 million.