Safariland acquires VIEVU

VIEVU, founded in 2007, designs, develops, manufactures and markets 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, says the company.

“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.