Bosch to acquire light commercial HVAC business from Johnson Controls and Hitachi for USD 8 billion

Bosch plans to take over the global HVAC solutions business for residential and light commercial buildings from Johnson Controls, for USD 8 billion. As part of this transaction, Bosch also intends to acquire 100 percent of the Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning (JCH) joint venture, including Hitachi’s 40 percent stake.

Binding agreements on the acquisitions were signed by the parties involved today. The acquisition is subject to approvals from the antitrust authorities. The acquisition is expected to be closed in approximately 12 months.  

“As the biggest acquisition in Bosch history, this is an important milestone in the systematic implementation of our strategy for 2030. We are dynamically pushing ahead with the strong development of Bosch, and will achieve a globally leading position in the promising HVAC market with this acquisition,” says Stefan Hartung, chairman of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH.

“In taking this step, moreover, we will strengthen our presence in the U.S. and Asia and achieve a better balance among our business sectors. This is also part of our strategy. In this way, we will open up further growth opportunities and put the company as a whole on a firmer footing.”

Together with JCH, the businesses Bosch intends to acquire generated sales revenue totaling roughly 4 billion euros in 2023, and employ some 12,000 people worldwide. The transaction includes 16 manufacturing sites and 12 engineering locations in more than 30 countries. The product portfolio covers the entire spectrum of HVAC solutions for residential and light commercial buildings and includes well-known brands such as York and Coleman in the U.S. and Hitachi in Asia, for which Bosch will be granted a long-term license.

Christian Fischer, the deputy chairman of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH who is responsible for the Bosch Group’s strategic growth initiatives, and thus for this planned acquisition, adds: “With this acquisition, Bosch will accelerate its growth and nearly double its sales revenue in the HVAC market to roughly 9 billion euros. Together with our future colleagues, we want to seize the huge opportunities offered by the market for the further growth of this new unit.”

The company expects the global HVAC market to grow 40 percent by 2030, driven by technological progress, the fight against climate change, and new regulations. “The acquired businesses will become part of the Bosch core business – and this will benefit customers, installation partners, and associates,” Fischer adds. “We have proved several times in the past that we can successfully integrate brands, take them forward through investments, and strengthen them.”

Bosch intends to integrate the acquired businesses into the Home Comfort Group. The 14,600 associates of the existing Bosch Home Comfort Group.

Following the transaction, the new unit will have a workforce of more than 26,000 and be able to benefit considerably from economies of scale and a complementary portfolio at the interface between heating and cooling. Jan Brockmann, president of the Bosch Home Comfort Group, says: “With our successful heating technology in Europe, we already have a strong team and a sound foundation. Now is the right time for a bold step toward a global presence. Demand for air-conditioning solutions is growing especially fast.” In the U.S., for example, Bosch expects to see more than 50 percent growth by the end of the decade, and in Europe as well, strong growth of approximately 30 percent is forecast up to 2030. Together, we will be able to build on strong, well established brands. We are looking forward to shaping the future of the Bosch Home Comfort Group with our future colleagues and their innovations and ideas,” Brockmann adds.

The HVAC business Bosch plans to acquire from Johnson Controls has an especially strong presence in the United States and Asia. The portfolio in these regions is supplemented by efficient air-water heat pumps, which Johnson Controls offers above all in Europe.