Ecolab Completes $1.8 Billion Acquisition of Ovivo’s Electronics Ultrapure Water Business

Ecolab Inc. closed its acquisition of Ovivo’s Electronics Ultrapure Water Business on December 16 2025, paying $1.8 billion in cash for the unit that supplies breakthrough ultrapure water technology to semiconductor fabs and data‑center operators.

The deal adds a fast‑growing, high‑margin segment that is expected to generate roughly $500 million in sales by the end of 2025 and to lift Ecolab’s Global High‑Tech revenue to $800 million, a target that would more than double the company’s high‑tech growth engine and help it reach $900 million in high‑tech revenue by 2026.

Ovivo is a leading provider of ultrapure water systems that meet the stringent purity requirements of the semiconductor industry—purity levels that are 1,000 times higher than pharmaceutical standards. By integrating Ovivo’s technology with Ecolab’s existing water, digital and service platforms, the company can offer end‑to‑end circular water solutions that reduce water use and improve energy efficiency for customers in AI, semiconductor and data‑center markets.

Chief Executive Officer Christophe Beck said the acquisition “expands Ecolab’s high‑tech portfolio with a world‑class technology that is critical to the next generation of chip manufacturing.” Beck added that the move positions Ecolab to capture the growing demand for ultrapure water driven by AI and advanced microchip production, where a single fab can consume the equivalent of 17 million people’s annual drinking water.

The transaction is a key step in Ecolab’s strategy to shift from commodity chemical sales to high‑margin, technology‑enabled services. The company expects the Ovivo unit to contribute significantly to its operating income, with the high‑tech segment already delivering double‑digit margin expansion in recent quarters. The acquisition also strengthens Ecolab’s competitive edge in the high‑growth semiconductor and data‑center industries, where water purity is a critical differentiator.

Ecolab’s management highlighted that the deal will accelerate the company’s circular water strategy, reduce overall water consumption for customers, and improve energy efficiency—factors that are increasingly important to chipmakers and data‑center operators looking to lower operating costs and meet sustainability targets.

The acquisition aligns with Ecolab’s broader focus on high‑tech growth, as the company has raised its full‑year outlook for 2025 and 2026, citing strong demand in its high‑tech, life sciences and digital segments. The $1.8 billion cash consideration reflects the premium Ecolab is willing to pay for a technology that is expected to generate substantial revenue and margin upside in the coming years.

Ecolab’s strategic rationale is underscored by the fact that the semiconductor and data‑center markets are experiencing rapid growth, driven by AI and advanced computing. The company’s circular water solutions are positioned to meet the industry’s need for water purity while reducing water use and energy consumption, thereby creating a compelling value proposition for customers.

The deal also signals Ecolab’s confidence in the long‑term trajectory of the high‑tech sector, as the company aims to reach $900 million in Global High‑Tech revenue by 2026 and to achieve a 20 % operating income margin by 2027.

Ecolab’s management emphasized that the acquisition will be accretive to sales growth and will deliver double‑digit returns, reinforcing the company’s focus on high‑margin, technology‑enabled services.

The transaction is expected to be fully integrated in the next 12 months, with Ovivo’s team joining Ecolab’s high‑tech organization and the company leveraging its global footprint to expand the reach of ultrapure water solutions.

Ecolab’s acquisition of Ovivo’s electronics unit is a strategic move that positions the company at the forefront of the high‑tech water market, providing customers with advanced, sustainable water solutions while driving growth and margin expansion for Ecolab.

Ecolab’s management has indicated that the deal will support its goal of becoming a leading provider of circular water solutions across the semiconductor and data‑center industries, further strengthening its competitive advantage in a rapidly expanding market.

The acquisition is a material event that will reshape Ecolab’s high‑tech portfolio and reinforce its strategy to deliver high‑margin, technology‑enabled services.

Ecolab’s management has highlighted that the deal will accelerate the company’s circular water strategy, reduce overall water consumption for customers, and improve energy efficiency—factors that are increasingly important to chipmakers and data‑center operators looking to lower operating costs and meet sustainability targets.

Ecolab’s acquisition of Ovivo’s electronics unit is a material event that will reshape Ecolab’s high‑tech portfolio and reinforce its strategy to deliver high‑margin, technology‑enabled services.

Ecolab’s acquisition of Ovivo’s electronics unit is a strategic move that positions the company at the forefront of the high‑tech water market.

Ecolab’s management has indicated that the deal will support its goal of becoming a leading provider of circular water solutions across the semiconductor and data‑center industries.

Ecolab’s acquisition is a material event that will reshape the company’s high‑tech portfolio and reinforce its strategy to deliver high‑margin, technology‑enabled services.

Ecolab’s management has highlighted that the deal will accelerate the company’s circular water strategy, reduce overall water consumption for customers.

Ecolab’s acquisition of Ovivo’s electronics unit is a strategic move that positions the company at the forefront of the high‑tech water market.