CHICAGO, April 15, 2013 – Littelfuse, Inc. (NASDAQ:LFUS), today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Hamlin, Inc. from Key Safety Systems for $145 million in a cash transaction. Hamlin is dedicated to providing sensor technology to the automotive industry as well as the electronics and industrial markets. Hamlin is a global company whose principal facilities are in Lake Mills, Wisconsin; Norwich, UK; Suzhou, China and Matamoros, Mexico. Hamlin had sales of approximately $76 million in 2012.
"The acquisition of Hamlin is a major step forward in our strategy to build a global, automotive sensor platform," said Gordon Hunter, Chief Executive Officer. "We are excited about the growth prospects for Hamlin and the obvious synergies with Accel, the automotive sensor company which we acquired in 2012. With Hamlin, we also extend our sensing technology outside the automotive market with products that can be sold through our electronics distribution partners."
"Hamlin's new products pipeline and design-win momentum combined with our leadership positions in the global automotive and electronics markets make for a powerful combination," added Hunter. "We believe this business can achieve double-digit sales growth, and that it will be accretive to earnings by approximately $0.35 per share for 2014."
Completion of the transaction is subject to the expiration or termination of the applicable Hart-Scott-Rodino waiting period and other customary closing conditions. This transaction is expected to close by the end of May.
There will be no conference call related to this announcement. Further comments regarding this acquisition will be made in conjunction with the company's earnings release and conference call on April 30, 2013.
About Hamlin
Founded in 1949, Hamlin Electronics is a leader in sensor technology, providing standard products and custom solutions for leading global manufacturers in the automotive and other industries. The company's product line includes reed, hall-effect, inductive and its newly-developed PWG linear sensing technologies, as well as switches and relays. Headquartered in Lake Mills, Wis., Hamlin has manufacturing, engineering and sales offices in the U.S., Mexico, Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit the Hamlin website: www.hamlin.com.
About Littelfuse
Founded in 1927, Littelfuse, Inc., the worldwide leader in circuit protection, offers the industry’s broadest and deepest portfolio of circuit protection products and solutions. Littelfuse devices protect products in virtually every market that uses electrical energy, from consumer electronics to automobiles to industrial equipment. In addition to its Chicago, Illinois, world headquarters, Littelfuse has more than 30 sales, distribution, manufacturing and engineering facilities in the Americas, Europe and Asia. Technologies offered by Littelfuse include Fuses; Gas Discharge Tubes (GDTs); Positive Temperature Coefficient Devices (PTCs); PulseGuard® ESD Suppressors; SIDACtor® Devices; Silicon Protection Arrays (SPA®); Switching Thyristors; TVS Diodes and Varistors. The company also offers a comprehensive line of highly reliable Electromechanical and Electronic Switch and Control Devices for commercial and specialty vehicles and Sensors for automobile safety systems, as well as Protection Relays and underground Power Distribution Centers for safe control and distribution of electricity.
"Forward-Looking" and "Safe-Harbor" Statements are omitted