Exponent announces acquisition of Crane Building Services & Utilities, a UK-headquartered manufacturer of mission critical flow control products serving the water utilities, building services and gas utilities markets
28 October 2026, LONDON, DUBLIN – Exponent, a leading European private equity firm, has today announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire Crane BS&U (or “The Company”), a UK-headquartered, leading designer and manufacturer of engineered flow control products and solutions for the utility and building sectors. The transaction is a carve-out from Crane Company and remains subject to the finalisation of the appropriate employee representative processes and the standard regulatory approvals.
Founded in 1908, Crane BS&U has developed a portfolio of well-established, premium brands, including Viking Johnson, Crane, Helden, Hattersley, NABIC and WASK, alongside an international footprint spanning UK, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Headquartered in Ipswich, UK, the company operates across the water utilities, building services and gas utilities sectors to deliver products and solutions helping customers connect, control, maintain and repair critical infrastructure in water and gas networks and HVAC systems that serve office and commercial buildings, data centres and other facilities.
The proposed transaction will see BS&U’s international operations carved-out from its US-headquartered parent. Today, Crane BS&U employs over 460 people and serves more than 3,000 customers through four sites globally, including its manufacturing and assembly facility in Hitchin, UK. Crane BS&U prides itself on its long-standing relationships with customers, including long-term supply agreements with all major UK water and gas utilities, underpinned by its engineering-led approach to product development and the technical expertise of its workforce.
Exponent is backing the incumbent management team of Crane BS&U, led by President Chris Gray. Exponent has appointed Ron Krisanda who will join the board as Chair. Ron has worked with a number of relevant businesses such as Cooper Turner Beck, Milacron, Tyco and Edwards and will bring extensive industrial and operational experience.
Exponent will partner with Crane BS&U’s management team to build on the company’s established positions across water utilities, building services and gas utilities, accelerating organic growth through investment in commercial and operational capabilities, product innovation and international expansion.
James Gunton, Partner at Exponent, said: “We are delighted to partner with Crane BS&U, which has established itself as a leading supplier of key products and solutions for essential infrastructure across building services and utilities in the UK and key markets across Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The company has built a differentiated position in attractive and resilient end markets, underpinned by its portfolio of trusted brands, core engineering expertise and long-standing customer relationships. We see a significant opportunity to build on these strengths as Crane BS&U becomes an independent business, supporting the team to invest behind its product portfolio, engineering capabilities and international growth.”
Chris Gray, President, Crane BS&U, said: “The transition of Crane BS&U as a standalone business marks an exciting next chapter, building on our success to date and creating a strong platform to expand our product offering and pursue new opportunities. We are grateful to Crane Company for their support and stewardship to develop the business to where we are today and look forward to partnering with Exponent to further realise our ambitions.”
The transaction marks Exponent’s tenth corporate carve-out over the past decade and follows the acquisition of Optimas International (distribution and supply chain management services) earlier this year. Crane BS&U sits within Exponent’s industrial services and products sector, where the firm has significant experience, including through its investments in V Group (marine services), Pattonair (aerospace supply chain management services) and most recently Optimas International.