Lighting Products Maker Buys Euro Counterpart

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Pelican Products Inc., a Torrance-based manufacturer of lighting products and durable cases, completed the acquisition this month of a European LED lighting company.

After the purchase of Blue i UK Ltd., Pelican also created a new division, Advanced Area Lighting Group, which focuses on light emitting diode products.

The division’s first project is the development of high-powered, portable lighting system that can be used by road construction crews and first-responders in the event of an emergency. The battery-powered system can provide 15 hours of continuous light.

LED technology is considered a breakthrough because it is energy-efficient, powerful and reliable.

“The lighting industry hasn’t even scratched the surface in effectively integrating LED technology into commercial applications for lighting large areas,” said Lyndon Faulkner, chief executive of Pelican, in a statement. “That is the sole focus of Pelican’s AALG and the major reason we have acquired Blue i.”

Founded in 1976, Pelican offers more than 40 watertight cases, and a range of hand-held flashlights and other lighting products. The privately held company does the bulk of its manufacturing in Torrance and has more than $200 million in annual sales.

Pelican was developing the new LED division prior to the acquisition of Blue i, which was founded in 2005. The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

“We were impressed with their collective expertise in lighting innovation and loved the complementary products they were bringing to market,” Faulkner said.


Majority Owner

Teledyne Technologies Inc. announced earlier this month that it has increased its ownership stake in a Florida electrical systems manufacturer specializing in the oil exploration business.

Thousand Oaks-based Teledyne acquired 21 percent of the outstanding shares of Daytona Beach-based Ocean Design Inc. The $35 million deal increases its total stake in the company to 84 percent of fully diluted outstanding shares.

Teledyne first paid $30 million in August 2006 for a majority stake in Ocean Design, which manufactures underwater electrical and fiber-optical interconnect systems for offshore oil and gas production. Teledyne has invested a total of $73 million in the company.

Teledyne specializes in electronic and aerospace components for the military and other customers, but it has been bolstering its offshore oil business as the skyrocketing price of crude oil has stimulated more production and exploration. The company has bought four other companies since late 2007, including the $16.8 million acquisition of underwater electrical system manufacturer Impulse Enterprise.


Army Deals

Los Angeles-based defense contractor Northrop Grumman Corp. said last week that it has received a pair of U.S. Army contracts worth almost $300 million combined.

Northrop and its partner, Orangeburg, N.Y.-based DHS Systems LLC, won a $240 million deal to provide “mobile tactical operations centers,” consisting of tents and trailers capable of providing power for lighting and computers.

Northrop also won a $53 million contract from the Army for laser-guided munitions components. The company will build 150 Lightweight Laser Designator Rangefinder systems, which aid in weapon targeting under a wide range of battlefield conditions. The deal is a follow-on from a previously awarded $336 million contract.

The company expects to deliver the devices by 2010.

Separately, the Government Accountability Office is expected to issue a decision this week on whether to overturn the $35 billion Air Force aerial refueling tanker contract awarded to Northrop in February.

The contract, considered one of the most significant government military contracts ever, was given to Northrop and its European partner over favorite Boeing Co. Boeing executives said they believed the judging criteria were changed during the competition and filed an appeal.




Lean Buy

TenX Ventures LLC, a Pasadena firm focused on buying and building lean manufacturing companies, has acquired a nearby industrial products manufacturer.

The firm bought Sparling Instruments Inc., an El Monte-based manufacturer of propeller meters for water irrigation systems that was founded in 1912.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

TenX said it targets small profitable companies in industries where there is room for growth. It also seeks companies with low labor productivity, which allows TenX to streamline the manufacturing process and increase revenue potential.

The firm previously acquired steel manufacturer Defiance Acquisition and paper-binding products maker Performance Design.


Staff reporter Richard Clough can be reached at

[email protected]

or at (323) 549-5225, ext. 251.

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