News of 2020
METAWATER Acquires All Shares of Wigen Companies, Inc.～Second acquisition to subsidize a water treatment equipment supplier for the METAWATER Group to expand its business in North America～
METAWATER Co., Ltd. (President: Yasushi Nakamura; Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; hereinafter referred to as "METAWATER") acquired 100% of the shares of Wigen Companies, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as "Wigen"), a U.S.-based water treatment equipment supplier, on April 1st, 2020 (U.S. local time).
Wigen specializes in membrane filtration and ion exchange technologies for municipal drinking water, industrial water, and reclaimed water treatment market in the United States.
In the United States, due to drought caused by climate change and water shortage caused by population growth, there is a growing demand, mainly in the Southwest, for the process of using treated wastewater for drinking water. Through the acquisition of Wigen as a subsidiary, METAWATER Group aims to enhance our presence in the rapidly growing potable water reuse market in the United States. And together with Aqua-Aerobic Systems, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as "Aqua"), which became a subsidiary in January 2016, we will strengthen and expand our North American business by leveraging synergies with the resources of each company.
Overview of Wigen
| Location | Minnesota, U.S.A (near Minneapolis) |
| Establishment | 1965 |
| Main Business Activities | Development/design/manufacturing of water treatment equipment for membrane filtration and ion exchange technologies. |
Wigen New Structure * Newly Appointed
| Name | New | Current |
| Ken Akikawa |
Executive Officer, METAWATER Co., Ltd. |
Executive Officer, METAWATER Co., Ltd. Executive General Manager, International Business Division Director and President, METAWATER USA, INC. |
| Jeff W. Wigen | President and CEO, Wigen Companies, Inc. |
President and CEO, Wigen Companies, Inc. |
Comments from Ken Akikawa, Director and President, METAWATER USA, INC.
We are very pleased and welcome Wigen, which has a unique and different strength with Aqua, to become a part of our group. By combining METAWATER's differentiated technologies with the advantages of those both companies in North America, we will provide suitable and innovative solutions not only to the reclaimed water market, where its demand will continue to spike but also to the new problems on the water quality. METAWATER Group keeps striving on improvement of the water environment in North America.
Comments from Jeff W. Wigen, President, Wigen Companies, Inc
The investment by METAWATER represents an important strategic opportunity, and will provide Wigen with the resources to expedite our growth objectives. This will include a number of new products, service offerings and initiatives to build on our current platform and successes. METAWATER is the right organization to carry on Wigen's rich 55-year history, and I'm excited to remain as President & CEO for what will be an exciting journey.