Daikin Industries is buying Goodman Global in a deal that will fortify its status as the world's biggest maker of residential heating, ventilating and air-conditioning systems. Daikin's board approved the $3.7-billion US deal for the Houston company as part of its expansion in the U.S. residential market. Daikin wants to broaden its manufacturing and sales overseas, especially in emerging markets. It said it would draw on support from a Japanese government initiative to help offset the impact of the strong Japanese yen on exports to help finance the deal. Daikin is the world's biggest HVAC maker, with more than $15 billion in sales in 2011. The deal puts it further ahead of world No. 2, China's Zhuhai Gree Group.
