Aearo Co., Indianapolis, Ind., announced yesterday that it has acquired Norway-based Livax A/S.
The acquisition will enable Aearo to increase its share in the rapidly growing European market for products that allow for communication in noisy environments.
Aearo, with sales of approximately $300 million in fiscal 1999, is one of the world''s leading suppliers of hearing protection, prescription and non-prescription safety eyewear, face protection, head protection and respiratory protection products.
Aearo has 13 manufacturing locations worldwide and are all ISO 9000 certified, as is the automated distribution center in Indianapolis.
Livax A/S, based in Norway, had 1999 sales of approximately $1.2 million. Livax A/S services the offshore industry with communication headsets, and to a less extent services the motorsport and general industrial marketplace.
The company has been a distributor of Aearo''s Peltor brand name products for more than 20 years.
"We are very pleased to complete the acquisition of Livax," said Bryan Carey, managing director of Aearo Europe. "This presence in Norway will strengthen our relationship with dealers who service the strategically important offshore industry. We look forward to continued growth in this area as a result of our product development efforts as well as the improving awareness of the Peltor Communications brand globally."
The acquisition creates Peltor Communications A/S, a wholly-owned subsidiary with continued headquarters in Oslo, Norway. It will conduct its business as Peltor Communications A/S.
by Virginia Sutcliffe