Hayward Industries buys controlling share of ClevaQuip

Global pool equipment powerhouse Hayward Industries has bought a majority shareholding in innovative Australian equipment manufacturer and long-time local Hayward distributor ClevaQuip.

This transaction signals the direct entry into the Australian market by one of the world’s largest manufacturers of pool and spa products, bringing with it the associated resources and commitment necessary to become a significant player within the local market.

While ClevaQuip has become an integrated part of the Hayward group, it remains an Australian-managed company dedicated to servicing the needs of the Australian market. ClevaQuip also remains the Puresilk distributor for the Australian and New Zealand Markets.

Robert Davis, president and chief executive officer of Hayward Industries, says he is delighted to formally partner with ClevaQuip.

“During our ten year business partnership with Tony Sharpe, ClevaQuip Managing Director, and the rest of his team, we have developed a strong respect and admiration for the way they have successfully represented Hayward Pool Products in the Australian market,” he says.

“We are very pleased that Tony, with over 25 years experience in the Australian pool market, will continue to lead the newly formed entity which will operate as ClevaQuip, a Hayward company.”

The acquisition is part of Hayward’s long term strategy for the Asia/Pacific region which already includes China, India and Southeast Asia. The Australasian deal will combine Hayward’s global business with ClevaQuip relationships and knowledge of the Australian and New Zealand markets.

Tony Sharpe has expressed his enthusiasm for the transaction as it will provide a significant opportunity for ClevaQuip to grow faster while providing a strong future for his entire team.

“I’ve known Hayward and its management team for more than twenty years and I’m delighted we’ll be working even more closely together,” says Sharpe. “Hayward is a global leader in the pool industry and will bring many positive influences to the Australian market.

“We’ve enjoyed a relationship with Hayward as a distributor for eleven years, and my relationship goes back substantially longer than that. When negotiations started some months ago, it wasn’t a difficult decision to become part of the Hayward family, because of our long standing relationship with both Hayward and the principles of company.”

Hayward Industries, Inc is headquartered in Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA. Hayward has been a global leader in the development and marketing of swimming pool equipment for both residential and commercial applications for almost fifty years. The company’s diverse product line includes pumps, filters, gas heaters, heat pumps, automatic pool cleaners, electronic chlorine generators, controls, electronic LED coloured lighting, valves, vacuum release systems, drain covers and other general pool products for residential and commercial applications.

ClevaQuip Pty Ltd is based in Melbourne, Australia. As well as distributing the full range of Hayward pool equipment, ClevaQuip manufactures pool equipment and systems including the Puresilk chlorine and pH control and dosing systems. The Puresilk technology is owned by Poolpower.

“Ben Bremauer and I are formalising our relationship,” says Sharpe. “Ben and I go back almost thirty years with the distribution of salt chlorinators and other products. For the past eight years we’ve been equal partners and co-directors in ClevaQuip, and now I’m about take up a fifty percent partnership in Poolpower, which is the owner of the Puresilk technology.

“After formalising this relationship, we’ll have an agreement which allows all existing internal relationships to continue and potentially allow opportunities for Puresilk in other parts of the world.”

Sharpe says that they have no plans to change their manufacturing arrangements in light of the new arrangement with Hayward.

“Ben developed Puresilk from scratch and some parts are made overseas but it’s entirely assembled in Australia. At this stage we’ve got no intention to change that, and that’s a quality decision we’ve taken.”