Hillenbrand Inc. has agreed to acquire the Coperion Group, Stuttgart, Germany. The transaction is anticipated to close by December 31, 2012, subject to regulatory approvals. Hillenbrand is a U.S.-based, strategic global diversified industrial company, publicly listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and will acquire Coperion from Deutsche Beteilungs AG, a leading German private equity company.

Coperion will be part of Hillenbrand’s Process Equipment Group (PEG). The PEG is a recognized leader in the design, production, marketing, and servicing of equipment and systems used in processing applications for a wide range of industrial markets. Its three operating companies are: K-Tron, which focuses primarily on feeding and pneumatic conveying equipment; Rotex, a manufacturer of separation equipment, including gyratory and vibratory screeners and sifters; and TerraSource Global, which makes size reduction equipment, conveying systems, and screening equipment, operating under the three brands Pennsylvania Crusher, Gundlach, and Jeffrey Rader.

“Coperion is an international market and technology leader with a remarkable global network – in manufacturing and engineering as well as sales and services,” said Joe Raver, president of Hillenbrand’s Process Equipment Group. “This acquisition will enhance Hillenbrand’s growth strategy and strengthens our position in key markets such as the plastics, chemicals, food, and minerals industries. Both companies share a common vision of the future for the process equipment industry.”

“For Coperion, this change of ownership opens up new opportunities in markets beyond the plastics industry,” said Guenter Bachmann, CEO of Coperion. “It will also strengthen our business in the areas where we have been engaged in strategic execution over the past years: to reduce our dependency on the polymer industry business, expand our global sales and service network and product offerings, develop turnkey process solutions with our own system and process competence, and to improve earnings resilience. We look forward to this new partnership with the Process Equipment Group and their companies, because our companies are so closely aligned from a strategic point-of-view. We believe that we have a perfect strategic match.”