LONDON — Bunzl plc, a international distribution and outsourcing Group, announced Tuesday that at the end of December it agreed to acquire a safety business in the U.S. with the acquisition being completed at the beginning of January.
The company has acquired Blake H Brown, Inc. which trades as Tillman. The business, based in California, is engaged in the sale of a variety of personal protection equipment, principally gloves, to distributors throughout the U.S. who supply customers operating in the welding and industrial sectors. Most products supplied are own label which are sold under the Tillman brand. Revenue in the year ended Dec. 31 is expected to be approximately $100 million.
Commenting on the acquisition, Michael Roney, Chief Executive of Bunzl, said:
“The purchase of Tillman is another important development for the Group’s safety business in North America. We are delighted to welcome their employees to Bunzl. Including Tillman, the committed acquisition spend in respect of businesses acquired or agreed to be acquired during 2014 is approximately £210 million and the current environment for acquisitions continues to be positive.”