Viking Corp., a manufacturer of fire sprinkler and other suppression products, has sold all the assets of its subsidiary, Viking Electronic Services, to VES LLC, a wholly owned U.S. subsidiary of U.K.-based Kentec Electronics Ltd. The transaction is expected to close in April.
Viking Electronic Services will continue to provide services to its dealers prior to the closing. After completing the transaction, those services will be provided by VES. Viking Electronic Services personnel will continue to work with VES.
“We started Viking Electronic Services in 2001 to help support our independent fire sprinkler contractors. As Viking Electronic Services developed and grew its line of eLAN™ engineered fire alarm systems, its success took it in a different business direction from that of Viking and Viking’s core sprinkler and suppression businesses,” says Viking’s Chairman Tom Groos. “It was then decided to look for a progressive organization with the technical expertise to continue with what has been developed, expand further on the technology and take it to the next level. Kentec became that logical new owner.”
Kentec has been working closely with Viking Electronis Services for more than 6 years in the development of the eLAN fire alarm system, says Ray King, managing director, Kentec.
“By combining the engineering and development resources, we now have the ability to provide both VES and Kentec customers with more innovative new products and to get them to market faster. In addition, we will be able to market the eLAN fire alarm system with its UL listings and FM approvals to other world markets,” King says.
The U.S headquarters of VES will remain in King of Prussia, Pa.
