Water technology company AO Smith Acquires HUL’s Pureit Water Business for approximately Rs. 601 cr. as per a company release. Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) confirmed the completion of the sale.
HUL stated, “The Board of Directors has approved the sale and divestment of the Company’s Water Purification business, operated under the Pureit brand, including trademarks, copyrights, and other intellectual properties, as well as identified assets and contracts associated with the business, on a slump sale basis to AO Smith India Water Products Private Limited.”
AO Smith Acquires HUL’s Pureit Water Business: The Deal
The company finalized the divestment of Pureit on November 1, 2024. In July, HUL announced its decision to sell the Pureit business to AO Smith India for approximately ₹601 crore (about $72 million).
For the financial year ending March 31, 2024, the turnover of the Pureit water purification business reached ₹293 crore.
The Business
HUL’s water purification segment falls under its broader Home Care business, which the company does not separately track in terms of net worth.
AO Smith Corporation noted that the total acquisition cost for Pureit amounts to around $120 million, subject to customary adjustments.
CEO Input
Kevin J. Wheeler, Chairman and CEO of AO Smith said, “Pureit complements our premium brands in the market, and its strong presence in e-commerce will enable us to expand our footprint in that channel.”
The acquisition aligns with AO Smith’s strategy to scale up and enhance its premium water treatment product offerings.
The Brand
As reported by livemint.com, Pureit was launched to provide safe and accessible drinking water. The brand currently operates in several countries, including India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and Mexico.
