Deal Timeline

Plotted by close date where disclosed, otherwise announcement. Select any marker to jump to the deal entry.

The Acquisition Playbook.

Three patterns run through AAON's acquisitions — what it looks for, how it pays, and how it folds in what it buys.

01
Acquisition criteria
Buy the capability, not just the revenue.
AAON's controls tuck-in of long-time supplier WattMaster brought electronic-controller expertise in-house to accelerate its own product development, described as "strategic in accelerating the development of our own electronic controllers for air distribution."
WattMaster ControlsBasX Solutions (BasX, LLC)
02
Capital deployment
Enter high-growth adjacencies through a proven platform.
The BasX Solutions acquisition gave AAON "an immediate presence in the high-growth data center and cleanroom markets, both of which the Company has historically had minimal exposure," pairing BasX's engineering with AAON's manufacturing scale and balance sheet.
WattMaster ControlsBasX Solutions (BasX, LLC)
03
Integration approach
Pay for growth with structure, not just cash.
BasX was funded largely with cash on hand plus up to $80 million of contingent common-stock earn-outs tied to 2021–2023 milestones, aligning sellers to the growth AAON was underwriting (a 45% five-year sales CAGR and a robust backlog).
WattMaster ControlsBasX Solutions (BasX, LLC)

The Full Deal Book

2 acquisitions — each with the deal value, financing structure, target revenue, and executive commentary where disclosed.

01 WattMaster Controls, Inc. · Parkville, Missouri, USA $6.4M
Announced Feb 2018 Closed Feb 2018 All cash
electronic controllersair distribution controlsHVAC controls intellectual property

AAON purchased substantially all of the assets of WattMaster Controls, Inc. (WCI) — primarily intellectual property, receivables, inventory and fixed assets. WCI, based in Parkville, Missouri, had been a long-time controls supplier to AAON. AAON hired substantially all WCI employees and leased WCI's former facility to run the operation.

Why it was attractive
  • WCI was already AAON's controls supplier
  • so acquiring it brought proven controls IP and staff in-house with integration risk largely known
We are very excited about this strategic addition to our business. This acquisition allows us to quickly bring in-house the expertise and knowledge needed to accelerate the development of our own controls, which we believe to be an integral part of our continued efforts to improve our products and increase our customer satisfaction.Gary Fields — President, and Norman H. Asbjornson, CEO, AAON
02 BasX Solutions (BasX, LLC) · Redmond, Oregon, USA $100M
Announced Nov 2021 Closed Dec 2021 Combination
hyperscale data center coolingcleanroom systemscustom air handlersmodular solutionshigh-efficiency HVAC

AAON acquired 100% of the equity interests of BasX, LLC (dba BasX Solutions), headquartered in Redmond, Oregon, via a membership interest purchase agreement. BasX designs, engineers and manufactures custom, high-efficiency cooling solutions for the hyperscale data center market, plus cleanroom systems for bio-pharmaceutical, semiconductor, medical and agriculture customers, and custom air handlers and modular solutions. It operated a ~200,000 sq ft plant and was expected to realize roughly $70 million of revenue in 2021 with a mid-to-high double-digit EBITDA margin. A related $22 million real estate purchase from affiliate BasX Properties, LLC was expected to close by the end of Q1 2022. $100 million cash at closing, plus up to $80 million in contingent common-stock earn-outs (2021–2023), plus $22 million for related real estate.

Why it was attractive
  • High barriers to entry
  • blue-chip customer concentration acting as a moat
  • 45% five-year sales CAGR
  • and a robust backlog supporting future growth
This is a significant milestone in our Company's history, and we are pleased to formally welcome the BasX Solutions family to AAON. Strategically, this acquisition provides AAON with an immediate presence in the high-growth data center and cleanroom markets, both of which the Company has historically had minimal exposure. The growth and profitability fundamentals of these new markets are very compelling, and we are eager to leverage the BasX platform with our financial strength and manufacturing capacity to drive accelerated share gains.Gary Fields — President and CEO, AAON
Post-close · earnings-call commentary

Earnings call following the close: "million from $115.8 million. Organic volume growth contributed approximately 21.3% to net sales, and the acquisition of BasX Solutions contributed 18.1%, with the remainder coming mainly from price increases. A record backlog at the beginning of the quarter, along with improved production rates, drove the robust volume growth. Record production rates in the first quarter reflect an easing of supply chain issues, greater production capacity, and strong performance from our operational team. Our gross profit increased 38.9% to $46.1 mil"

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