Bacou SA, the majority owner of Bacou USA Inc. has merged with Christian Dalloz SA to form one leading company providing personal protective equipment and safety products.
"Since the establishment of Bacou SA in 1974, our group has been known for bold strategic decisions," said Philippe Bacou, chairman, president and CEO of Bacou SA and co-chairman of Bacou USA.
Walter Stepan, co-chairman of Bacou USA said, "This transaction creates a unique opportunity for the combined business of Bacou-Dalloz to immediately assume the role of global leader in the personal protective equipment and safety industry."
Philippe Alfroid, chairman of Christian Dalloz said that the combination transaction will create an industry leader, headquartered in France.
"Both groups were founded by visionary French entrepreneurs whose companies have continued to flourish after their untimely deaths," said Alfroid. "The similarity of our two corporate histories and cultures is a strong foundation for the future success of the combined business."
Bacou USA was founded in 1993 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bacou SA for the purpose of making the platform acquisition of Uvex Safety Inc.
Bacou USA makes and sells products that protect the sight, hearing, hands and respiratory systems of workers against occupational hazards, as well as related instrumentation.
The company''s products, marketed under Uvex, Howard Leight, Perfect Fit, Whiting+Davis, Survivair, Pro-Tech, Biosystems, Titmus, LaserVision and Lase-R-Shield brand names, are sold principally to industrial safety distributors, fire fighting equipment distributors and optical laboratories.
Bacou SA was founded in 1974 by Henri Bacou as a manufacturer of safety shoes and boots. Today, the business is divided into two main groups -- manufacturing and distribution.
The manufacturing business comprises product lines that provide head-to-toe protection for workers, including helmets, eyewear, respirators, gloves, clothing and shoes. The distribution business is the leading supplier of personal protective equipment and safety products in France, and one of the largest in Europe.
Groupe Christian Dalloz, created in 1957 in Saint-Claude, France, is among the world experts in the field of protection of workers in the workplace, providing fall protection, eye protection, hearing protection, breathing apparatus and sun lenses.
The transaction between the companies is expected to close in late July 2001.
by Virginia Sutcliffe