The birth of Ideal Standard International

The sale of the Bath & Kitchen products business of American Standard, one of the world’s leading producers of ceramic sanitaryware, shower enclosures, whirlpool baths, taps and bathroom accessories, was officially completed on 31 October, 2007 with the creation of Ideal Standard International.

The business was sold to funds advised by American private investment firm Bain Capital through a leveraged buy-out on the part of the group’s top management.
Bain Capital becomes the majority shareholder of Bath & Kitchen while the American parent company will focus on its air conditioning and road and rail vehicle braking systems business under the Trane name. The operation was completed for a value of USD 1.745 billion. The Nord American activities are not part of this agreement.

Ideal Standard International operates in Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific as well as in South and Central America through the joint venture Incesa, in which it has a 64% shareholding. The company operates in these regions under the brand names Ideal Standard, Jado and American Standard (Asia Pacific), Incesa Standard, Armitage Shanks (UK), Ceramica Dolomite (Italy), Porcher (France) and Vidima (Eastern Europe).
The group is headquartered in Brussels, employs 18,000 people and operates in more than 30 countries (See previous article for details).

John Rietveldt, at the helm of the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) area since 2006, is chief executive officer of Ideal Standard International.