Melksham, England — Avon Rubber P.L.C. has completed the acquisition of 3M's ballistic protection business. Part of advanced materials business, the unit includes lines of ballistic helmets, body armor, flat armor and related helmet-attachment products for law enforcement.
In August, when the English rubber company originally disclosed its plans to purchase the unit, it valued the deal at $91 million and noted that the total could increase by $25 million depending on the outcome of pending contract bids.
In its latest news release, Avon did not disclose the final value of the deal.
Avon, which already supplies protection masks to the U.S. and global military and law enforcement forces, said in August that the acquisition represented "a very attractive opportunity."
"Incorporating the business into the Avon Protection portfolio will allow (us) to expand more rapidly into rest of world military and law enforcement markets," CEO Paul McDonald said in a statement.
The ballistic-protection business has annual global sales of approximately $85 million. 3M said it will focus on other businesses within its Advanced Materials division.
The division, a part of 3M’s Transportation & Electronics Business Group, makes products from fluoropolymers, ceramics, glass bubbles and other highly engineered materials.