Ansell Limited (ASX:ANN) today announced the acquisition of Hércules Equipamentos de Protecao Ltda (“Hercules”), a privately held Brazilian company, located in São Paulo, with sales of approximately USD30 million.
Hércules is a leading manufacturer of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in Brazil with approximately 350 employees, a plant located outside São Paulo and wide distribution across Brazil. Its product lines include turn-out gear for Military & First Responders, molten metal protection garments, fall protection equipment and gloves. Hércules was founded in 1989 and has enjoyed robust growth fuelled by Brazil’s growing economy and increasing workplace safety focus.
Magnus Nicolin, Ansell CEO and Managing Director, commented “Hércules is an excellent company with a strong management team and a well-recognized and trusted brand in Brazil’s large and growing PPE market. This acquisition represents another strategic milestone in Ansell’s journey of expansion into attractive adjacencies, with a further investment in protective clothing. It enables us to better serve several strategic verticals, (Construction, Military & First Responders, Mining, and Oil & Gas) and at the same time strengthens our presence in one of the world’s major emerging markets”.
The transaction is expected to close by the end of December/early January. The cash-free, debt-free purchase price will be around USD77 million and there is a potential additional earn-out payment tied to profit growth. The transaction is being funded out of Ansell’s available cash and credit facilities and is expected to be EPS neutral in F’13 and EPS accretive thereafter.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Ansell Media Relations
Frank Mantero, GC - Ansell
Tel: (1)732 345 2128/ (1) 908770 3595
Ansell Investor Relations
David Graham, I.R. -Ansell
Tel: (613)9270 7215 / (61)4011 407 49