Johnson Controls to sell facilities business

USA: Johnson Controls is to sell its facilities management business, Global Workplace Solutions, to concentrate on core activities.

The GWS business was separated from the company’s Building Efficiency hvac business last year, sparking rumours that it might be being positioned for a sell off.

In making the announcement  Alex Molinaroli, Johnson Controls’ chairman and ceo said, “GWS is a strong business and a leader in its market with tremendous potential to grow. As we’ve focused on it this past year to understand what is needed to win long-term, it is clear that GWS is really an exclusively service-based business and not core to our manufacturing, engineering and product-based portfolio. This is a win-win all around.”

The GWS business is a leading provider of facilities, corporate real estate and energy management. It has been part of Johnson Controls’ portfolio for more than 20 years, and currently manages more than 1.8 billion square feet of corporate real estate. It will continue to be a close partner to Johnson Controls as both a supplier and a customer.

“We have a strong reputation in the market, an incredibly talented team of employees, and a portfolio of long-standing high-quality clients,” said John Murphy, vice president and president, Johnson Controls Global Workplace Solutions. “Our business has only just begun to realize its full potential. With a new owner we will have access to the capital and resources required to continue to strengthen our business and be a formidable force in the market.”