Ecolab announced a definitive agreement to acquire the electronics division of Montréal-based Ovivo for approximately $2.4 billion Canadian dollars, in a deal both companies say will reshape the landscape for high-purity water solutions. The move, revealed Tuesday by Ovivo and its owner SKion Water, positions Ecolab to further extend its reach in the fast-growing market for ultra-pure water systems used by semiconductor and electronics manufacturers. 

Based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Ecolab is a global sustainability leader offering water, hygiene, and infection prevention services in more than 170 countries. The company, traded on the New York Stock Exchange, counts 48,000 employees and reports annual sales of $16 billion.

The deal comes at a pivotal moment for the water treatment industry. As data centers and semiconductor fabs proliferate worldwide, these facilities face mounting scrutiny over their water and energy footprints. Ecolab’s Nalco Water division, already a heavyweight in industrial water management, has emerged as a vital partner for major data center operators. At some sites, collaborations with firms like Digital Realty have enabled Ecolab’s systems to help avoid the withdrawal of as much as 126 million gallons of water annually.

The Ovivo acquisition is set to deepen Ecolab’s expertise in ultra-pure water — technology essential not just for data centers, but also for semiconductor, display, and advanced electronics manufacturing. While semiconductor and advanced electronics manufacturing demand ultra-pure water to avoid microscopic contamination, most data centers primarily use treated, recycled, or grey water for traditional cooling systems. However, the rise of direct-to-chip liquid cooling — increasingly adopted in high-density and AI-driven data centers — requires water that approaches ultra-pure standards to prevent corrosion, scaling, or hardware damage. For these cutting-edge applications, only water that is nearly free of minerals and contaminants can ensure safe, efficient operation.

Marc Barbeau, CEO of Ovivo, called the transaction “a testament to the world-leading market position that our Electronics division has built over the last decades,” adding that Ecolab’s scale and innovation will “lay the foundation for the next level of development” for the division’s team and technology.

For Ovivo, the sale frees capital to accelerate growth in core areas like municipal/industrial water, energy, and advanced membrane filtration — sectors seeing increased demand as governments and manufacturers target contaminants and “forever chemicals.” SKion Water CEO Reinhard Huebner said the move will also support expansion in North America through acquisitions and closer collaboration within Ovivo's parent company's water portfolio.

Huebner emphasized that SKion Water will continue to pursue an ambitious growth strategy, even as it divests Ovivo’s Electronics business. “At Ovivo our focus will be to accelerate organic growth in the Municipal, Energy and Cembrane business and to build out our industrial business in North America through acquisitions,” Huebner said. He added that this transition is an opportunity to strengthen collaboration across the SKion Water portfolio, creating synergies between Ovivo and other SKion Water companies worldwide.

The deal underscores a broader shift, as water scarcity and sustainability become defining issues for industries worldwide. Ecolab has committed to helping clients conserve 300 billion gallons of water a year by 2030. Pending regulatory clearance, the transaction is expected to close in early 2026.