Zodiac liferaft business to be sold

As well as the liferaft product range Survitec has an eye on the marine evacuation system (MES) range. The established brands RFD, DSB, EV and Beaufort are already part of Survitech, and the addition of Zodiac, says Survitec, will enhance its plans for global expansion in the marine industry and help create a broader group of complementary products, as well as extend its geographic footprint into France, Spain, South America, The Middle East and Asia. The acquisition is subject to standard regulatory approval.

The business will be integrated into the Group under the brand Survitec-Zodiac. Since the acquisition of Survitech by private equity firm Warburg Pincus in 2010, Survitec has acquired two other marine business; Seaweather Marine in the UK, and the commercial marine business of Revere in the USA.

The Survitec Group says its strategy is to strengthen its position in the marine, defence and aerospace safety markets by growing organically and through acquisitions both within existing and new territories. CEO Doug Baxter said: “Bringing the Zodiac commercial liferaft business into the Survitec Group is an extremely complementary acquisition that reinforces our position in the marine safety sector. Both companies have a history of technical innovation in the manufacture and supply of high quality products. Together we can build on this to ensure our continued growth in the marine industry.”