Armor Holdings overview and business analysis

Armor Holdings

Certain activities seem vary small from the viewpoint of an outsider, but may be a big business for insiders. In this paper we deal with a company concentrating on manufacture of products for personal protection and safety for law and order agencies throughout the world.

As a company this makes highly specialized products like armor and blast protection systems for "up-armored" Humvees and different military vehicles. In addition it makes "seating systems, air bags, armor for military helicopters, body armor for troops, bullet resistant vests, flak jackets, hard armor like helmets and shields, non-lethal products for removal of crowds like tear gas, Mace spray and distraction grenades." (Armor Holdings, Inc.: www.hoovers.com) The company also makes systems through which commercial vehicles and other vehicles including cash-in-transit vehicles can be armored. The sales of the company in 2004 were $979.7 million dollars, and the net income was $80.6 million. The growth is also quite impressive as during 2004, sales growth was by 168.3% and the net income growth was by 639.4%. It has a total of 7 competitors and the leaders among them are DHB Industries, General dynamics and Lockheed Martin. (Armor Holdings, Inc.: www.hoovers.com)

The company had been set up with the objective of making products to save the lives of private citizens, law enforcement officers and armed forces personnel. The company is not a single company but it has twelve various types of companies in eight different areas. Their advantages are due to the result of their ownership of most of the well-known brand names in this field. The equipment prepared by them is being used by law enforcement officials, corrections officers, military personnel and security professionals. (Armor Holdings Inc.: www.armorholdings.com)

They have a unit in Jacksonville, Florida which makes body armor, Crime scene and Evidence equipment, break free products and speed feed products. Another manufacturing unit in Casper, Wyoming manufactures less than lethal products. Supercraft are manufactured by them in Westhoughton of England. A unit in Ontario, California makes automotive accessories, body armor and duty gear. Another unit in Pittsfield, Massachusetts makes hard armor. A unit in Tijuana, Mexico makes Duty Gear and Body Armor. A unit in Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire makes police batons. (Armor Holdings Products Division Manufacturing Facilities) The line of items is quite diverse and one presumes have been developed over a period of time. The company was started in 1996 with acquisition of NIK Public Safety by American Body Armor, who founded Armor Holdings Inc. after completing the acquisition in August 1996. This was the beginning of the new company.

The change of name was made to clarify to the buyers the objective of the company -- a global provider, premier supplier of products in the law enforcement market and of brands which are ranked the best or second best in the market. In October of the same year there was an acquisition of Defense Technology Corporation of America and this was a manufacturer of less lethal ammunitions and anti-riot products used for the purpose of both military and enforcement of law. Then acquisitions started in 1997 when Supercraft in Europe were acquired. This is a manufacturer of military clothes for inner wear and outerwear, high visibility garments and bullet resistant vests. The next acquisition was in April 1998 of Protech armored Products and they are manufacturers of hard products like ballistic shields, ballistic helmets and armor for vehicles. They are also able to design armor for custom requirements. (Growth through Acquisitions)

In June of the same year, Federal Laboratories was acquired and this was a 75-year-old company manufacturing tear gas and anti-riot products. Their most famous brand is called "Mace." In April 1999 the company acquired Safariland and that manufactures holsters, belts and other components apart from bullet resistant vests. It is also a famous distributor of various products. The next company to be acquired was Break-Free Inc. which has a leading market share for military lubricants and was a manufacturer of lubricants, Cleaners, Preservatives and military weapon maintenance systems. In November 2000, there was the absorption of Lightning Powder which was a manufacturer and distributor of crime scene investigation equipment. In the same month there was also the absorption of Monadnock Lifetime Products which was a leader in the manufacturer and distributor of police batons.

In August 2001 there was the absorption of Guardian products O'Gara-Hess & Eisenhart. The first is a leading manufacturer of high quality defensive spray products, including pepper sprays. The second company is the world's largest and most experienced manufacturer for commercial and military armoring. Its supply is not limited only to America, but has been sent all over the world. It is also a major suppler to the Army for Humvees. In November of the same year, there was acquisition of Identicator. This is a leading manufacturer of paper-based fingerprint identification products which are used by all government and private institutions. The next group of takeovers was in April 2002, when Speedfeed and Evi-Paq were collected. The first company is a leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of quality synthetic gunstocks for both sporting products as also revolvers. The second company is considered to be an expert is evidence packaging and collection. This product is in line with other items manufactured by Armor. In May of the same year, there was the acquisition of Foldable Products Group which manufactures high performance ladders under the brand name of "Quikstep" ladders. (Growth through Acquisitions)