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02/2021100%

General Tools & Instruments acquired by Worthington Industries

UNITED STATES Industrial Equipment / Special Machinery / Instrumentation & Measurement EV $100–350M

Context

The acquisition of General Tools & Instruments by Worthington Industries represents a significant strategic expansion of the purchaser’s consumer products segment, marking a definitive move to consolidate its leadership in the niche tools and outdoor living markets. Strategically, this acquisition allows Worthington to internalize a proven new product development engine and a portfolio of nearly 100-year-old brands, creating substantial cross-selling opportunities with its existing retail and blue-chip customer base. The rationale for the deal centers on deepening technical expertise in specialized tool categories—such as precision measurement and environmental safety—which offer attractive, high-margin end-markets. From a transaction facts perspective, the deal was funded through existing cash reserves, demonstrating the group's robust liquidity and commitment to value-accretive M&A. The existing management team of the target will remain operational, ensuring the continuity of technical knowledge and the efficient management of its global supply chain.

General Tools & Instruments, which reported an EBITDA margin of [members only] in 2020, is valued in this transaction at an EV/EBITDA multiple of 5x–12x, standing directly in line with the average observed in the Industry & Manufacturing sector (11.4x in 2021).

-> Deep-dive in Industry & Manufacturing market trends

Target

General Tools & Instruments Company is a historic American provider of specialized hand tools and precision instruments, maintaining a robust portfolio of over 1,200 feature-rich products. Established in 1922 and headquartered in Secaucus, New Jersey, the firm operates through a collection of well-established brands including General, Garden-Weasel, Pactool International, and Hawkeye. Its business model focuses on niche categories such as environmental health and safety, precision measurement and layout, home repair and remodel, and specialized lawn and garden tools. The company differentiates itself through a proven product development process characterized by high technical agility and rapid speed-to-market, allowing it to maintain long-standing relationships with blue-chip retail and industrial customers.

Ent. Value

$100–350M

Equity Value

[members only]

Multiples

EV / Revenue

1x–3x

EV / EBITDA

5x–12x

EV / EBIT

[members only]

Historical Financials (USD)

Year
Rev
EBITDA
EBIT
2020
$50–100M
$5–25M
[members only]
2019
$50–100M
$5–25M
[members only]

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REFERENCES

Valuation range: EV $100–350M

Revenue range: $50–100M

EBITDA range: $5–25M

EV/Revenue range: 1x - 3x

EV/EBITDA range: 5x - 12x

Note: This page provides detailed data on a private equity M&A transaction. Detailed and exact financial metrics for the acquisition of General Tools & Instruments by Worthington Industries are reserved for mynth community members. Register for free to unlock full data.

Authors: This transaction was contributed by a verified mynth contributor and cross-checked against available transaction documents and official company communications.

Press release: view release

Target: general tools & instruments

Acquirer: worthington industries

FAQ

What transaction does this page cover?

This page covers Worthington Industries’s acquisition of 100% of General Tools & Instruments, an American company specialised in Special Machinery, in 2021.

How was the acquisition of General Tools & Instruments by Worthington Industries valued, and what multiples were paid?

mynth displays the transaction’s enterprise value within the $100–350M band, its EV/EBITDA multiple within the 5x - 12x range, and its EV/revenue multiple within the 1x - 3x range. Exact figures are available to members.

What were General Tools & Instruments’s revenue and EBITDA at the time of the deal?

At the time of the transaction, General Tools & Instruments generated annual revenue estimated in the $50–100M range and EBITDA in the $5–25M bracket (FY 2020). Detailed financial figures are available to members.

How does the valuation of General Tools & Instruments compare to benchmarks in the Industry & Manufacturing sector?

With an estimated multiple range of 5x - 12x, the transaction stands directly in line with historical averages for the Industry & Manufacturing sector (11.4x in 2021).

What sources support the information on this transaction?

The details of this transaction are sourced directly from the official corporate announcement published on the parties’ institutional website, ensuring primary-source verification of the closing and perimeter.

What is mynth?

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