Halma PLC Acquisition (9955Z)

TIDMHLMA

RNS Number : 9955Z

Halma PLC

21 December 2017

Halma plc

ACQUISITION OF ARGUS SECURITY S.r.l.

On 20 December 2017, Halma, the leading safety, health and environmental technology group, completed the simultaneous acquisitions of Argus Security S.r.l. ('Argus') and its UK-based distributor Sterling Safety Systems Limited ('Sterling') from management and private shareholders.

Argus, based in Trieste, Italy, is a leading manufacturer of wireless fire systems, including detectors, call points, sounders, beacons and modules. Sterling is the exclusive distributor of Argus wireless devices into the UK market under the Hyfire brand.

The combined cash consideration is GBP21 million on a cash and debt-free basis. The combined revenue, for the year ending 31 December 2016 was GBP13 million.

The acquisition, which is expected to be immediately earnings enhancing, was funded from Halma's existing cash and debt facilities.

The Argus and Sterling management team will continue to operate the business from its current locations. The two companies will be managed as a single Halma business as part of the Infrastructure Safety sector.

Andrew Williams, Halma's Chief Executive, commented:

"The global demand for wireless fire systems in commercial and industrial applications is increasing rapidly. The acquisitions of Argus and Sterling will further strengthen our Fire businesses' wireless capabilities and accelerate future product development. There is an excellent strategic fit with our existing portfolio, as we move towards increasingly connected and integrated fire safety systems in buildings."

For further information please contact:

Halma plc

Tel: [phone]

Andrew Williams, Chief Executive

Kevin Thompson, Finance Director

MHP Communications

Tel: [phone]

Rachel Hirst/Andrew Jaques

Notes

1. Halma buys successful businesses in safety, health and environmental markets and helps them grow further through investment targeted towards increasing innovation, management development and international expansion. In the past 10 years Halma has spent approximately GBP740 million acquiring nearly 30 businesses with deal sizes ranging from GBP1 million up to GBP100 million. (www.halma.com)

   2.    Further information on Argus can be found on its website www.argussecurity.it 
   3.    Further information on Sterling can be found on its website www.sterlingsafety.co.uk 

4. This statement is not intended to constitute a profit forecast for the current financial period or for any future period. In addition, this statement should not be taken to mean that the earnings per share of Halma will necessarily match or exceed the historic reported earnings per share of Halma.

   5.    Euro values were translated at a rate of EUR1.13:GBP1. 

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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December 21, 2017 04:00 ET (09:00 GMT)