U.S. Filter Reports Purchase of 19 Companies

U.S. Filter Corp. said it completed 19 acquisitions at a total cost of $215 million during its fiscal second quarter, adding new technologies and products. The Palm Desert-based manufacturer of treatment systems for water and waste water said the acquisitions, completed in the quarter ended Tuesday, add 58 locations to its existing network of 525 sales and service locations and 73 manufacturing plants worldwide. The acquisitions are spread equally throughout the company’s municipal, industrial, residential and commercial businesses, said Tim Traff, a spokesman for U.S. Filter. All 19 companies are closely held, Traff said. Shares of the water and waste water treatment systems provider fell 6 cents to close at $43.69 on the New York Stock Exchange.