Safariland Acquires VIEVU, a Leader in Body Worn Video Cameras for Law Enforcement Officers
Highly Complementary Addition to Safariland’s Suite of World-Class Safety and Survivability Product Brands
ONTARIO, California – June 29, 2015 – The Safariland Group (“Safariland”), a leading provider of a diverse range of safety and survivability products designed for the public safety, military, professional and outdoor markets, today announced that it has acquired VIEVU, a leader in body worn video and data management solutions. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
VIEVU, founded in 2007, is an industry leader in the design, development, manufacturing and marketing of wearable video cameras and data management software for law enforcement and private security professionals. VIEVU body worn video cameras are already used by more than 4,000 law enforcement agencies in 17 countries, including the United States. VIEVU was founded by its President, Steve Ward, who drew upon his 13-year career in the Seattle Police Department, including six years on the SWAT team, to build VIEVU into a leading body worn camera and data management solutions provider. Law enforcement agencies are increasingly equipping officers with body worn cameras, and the acquisition of VIEVU by Safariland will ensure that VIEVU has additional scale, financial and human resources and distribution capabilities to meet rapidly rising demand.
“We are excited to add VIEVU to the Safariland family in order to help VIEVU to unlock its full potential and capitalize on the significant and growing demand for body worn video,” said Warren B. Kanders, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Safariland Group. “After thoroughly studying the sector and its participants, it is clear that VIEVU’s industry-leading platform is superior and ideally suited to meet the needs of Safariland’s law enforcement customer base. Moreover, from a cultural perspective, Safariland and VIEVU are well aligned, as both companies are built around creating products that save lives and keep law enforcement officers safe. I am thrilled to welcome Steve, an industry-veteran, and the rest of his team to Safariland, and we look forward to a bright future together.”
Scott O’Brien, President of The Safariland Group, commented, “VIEVU – with its outstanding technology platform and track record of growth – is an ideal fit within Safariland’s suite of leading brands. We are committed to meaningfully investing in VIEVU to help the company achieve its full potential. Additionally, VIEVU will have access to Safariland’s robust distribution network and extensive relationships with police departments. This transaction will accelerate VIEVU’s growth and the adoption of its technology, and I am confident that it will also further solidify Safariland’s leadership position in the industry and extend our offering of safety and survivability products for the law enforcement community.”
Steve Ward, Founder and President of VIEVU commented, “I am extremely pleased about this partnership and excited to join the Safariland family. Over the last eight years, our team has worked tirelessly to develop reliable, high-quality, wearable video cameras and software. As a result of our hard work, VIEVU is a leading body worn camera manufacturer for law enforcement. As VIEVU enters its next phase of growth, particularly as demand for body worn cameras continues to increase, this strategic partnership with Safariland will provide us with the resources and deep industry experience to support the expansion of our platform. I have long admired Safariland’s leadership in the safety and survivability market and look forward to working with our new partners to capture the significant opportunity in front of us.”
VIEVU will remain headquartered in Seattle, Washington under the leadership of Steve Ward and the current management team. VIEVU will continue to operate as a standalone company within Safariland’s suite of brands and will have access to Safariland’s extensive distribution network and relationships to expand its sales, marketing and customer support activities.
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