AUSTRALIA; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA —Brookfield has reached an agreement to acquire 100% of Reliance Worldwide Corporation, a global manufacturer of plumbing and heating products, through its flagship private-equity strategy. The all-cash transaction values Reliance Worldwide at approximately US$2.8 billion in enterprise value, with the proposed consideration set at US$3.38 per share. Reliance Worldwide’s board has unanimously recommended the transaction, which remains subject to shareholder approval and other customary regulatory and government clearances.
The proposed takeover follows Brookfield’s earlier approach for the Australian-listed company and would move Reliance Worldwide from public ownership into the private-equity portfolio. Completion is expected in the first quarter of 2027 if the required conditions are satisfied. Brookfield’s investment would be funded through its Brookfield Capital Partners strategy and affiliated Brookfield Business Corporation.
Reliance Worldwide is headquartered in the United States and operates across the Americas, Europe and the Middle East, and Asia Pacific. The company manufactures products used in plumbing systems, including push-to-connect fittings, and distributes through retail and wholesale channels. Its geographic footprint gives the transaction relevance across residential construction, building maintenance, plumbing distribution and related manufacturing markets.
For Brookfield, the acquisition adds an industrial platform exposed to recurring demand from plumbing replacement and repair activity as well as new construction. The target also has established distribution relationships and a portfolio extending beyond its core push-to-connect products. These characteristics give the buyer exposure to both replacement-driven demand and opportunities to broaden product sales through existing channels.
The transaction comes as building-products manufacturers and distributors contend with changing housing activity, input costs and regional construction conditions. Because Reliance Worldwide operates across multiple major markets, ownership by a global investment group could affect decisions concerning manufacturing capacity, product development, distribution and capital allocation across regions.
For investors and businesses in the plumbing and building-products ecosystem, the deal provides a significant private-equity transaction involving a globally distributed industrial manufacturer. The proposed valuation and all-cash structure also remove Reliance Worldwide from public-market ownership if completed, while suppliers, distributors and competitors will need to assess any operational or portfolio changes following a potential change in ownership.
Brookfield is a global alternative investment manager with more than US$1 trillion in assets under management and investments spanning infrastructure, energy, private equity, real estate and credit. Its private-equity operations focus on acquiring and developing businesses across multiple industries and geographies, providing the financial and operating platform for the proposed Reliance Worldwide transaction.