Capital Safety, the world’s leading manufacturer of fall protection equipment under the DBI-SALA, Uniline, and Protecta brands, announced it has been purchased by KKR, a global investment firm, from Arle Capital Partners, which had owned the company since mid-2007. KKR has signed an agreement to pay $1.12 billion for the company, with transfer occurring in January 2012, subject to mandatory regulatory approvals.
Under its previous owner over the past 4.5 years, Capital Safety doubled its revenues through a commitment to aggressive research and development, which led to the launch of innovative products such as ExoFit NEX and i-Safe RFID equipment management system, enhanced its global supply chain, and expanded into emerging markets for fall protection equipment, according to company officials. Capital Safety also successfully executed five strategic acquisitions in Australia, Columbia, France, and the United Kingdom to broaden its offerings for customers worldwide.