• Strategic addition to the existing brand and product portfolio
• Strengthening of market position in the areas of architectural façade and hospitality lighting
• Significant growth potential for acdc through the Zumtobel Group’s worldwide sales organisation
•  acdc to remain an independent brand and flexible unit under the umbrella of the Group

Knightsbridge Estate in London lighting at night. (All photos courtesy of Zumtobel Group)

The international lighting corporation Zumtobel Group has acquired as of today a majority holding in UK lighting company AC/DC LED Holdings Ltd (acdc). The company based in Barrowford, north of Manchester, is an innovative supplier of high-end LED lighting solutions with a focus on the architectural façade and hospitality segments. acdc started off its business with high brightness LED luminaires in 2001. In 2014 acdc posted annual sales revenues of approximately 17 million euros with a current headcount of around 120 employees. This extremely dynamic enterprise exclusively develops and manufactures high-end LED luminaires in the international specification and project business and benefits from an excellent client network of lighting designers, architects and interior designers.

As a first step, the Zumtobel Group has acquired a majority shareholding of 60 per cent in acdc lighting. An option to purchase the remaining shares exists as a second step. The amount of the transaction will not be disclosed. acdc’s long term CEO and majority shareholder Gareth Frankland will continue to head the brand and drive forward its dynamic development within the Zumtobel Group.

Zumtobel Group CEO Ulrich Schumacher.

Zumtobel Group CEO Ulrich Schumacher commented as follows. “For the Zumtobel Group, the acquisition of acdc is an excellent strategic addition to our existing brand and product portfolio. With acdc, we are bringing an extremely innovative, highly successful and well-positioned premium brand under the umbrella of the Zumtobel Group. Architectural façade and hospitality lighting are precisely the areas where we see major growth opportunities, which we can leverage with the new setup. Furthermore, the acdc team has a highly developed innovation culture, which enables them to provide a fast and dynamic response to market requirements. This culture will also inspire the employees of the Zumtobel Group. It is our declared aim to retain acdc’s dynamic innovation culture and their excellent customer relationships. For that reason, acdc will be managed as an independent brand and, in terms of our organisational structure, will be integrated into the Zumtobel Group as a flexible individual unit.”

The key markets for acdc are currently their domestic UK market and the Middle East, along with a selective presence in other European countries and the U.S. Huge growth potential exists for the acdc brand, particularly with regard to marketing the acdc product portfolio through the Zumtobel Group’s worldwide sales organisation, which currently encompasses around 1,750 sales staff within the lighting segment. The specialists from acdc will play a key role in providing their expertise for their new colleagues.

acdc CEO Gareth Frankland.

“Joining the Zumtobel Group represents an important milestone for us on our path to further growth and the global development of acdc,” says acdc CEO Gareth Frankland. “As part of the Zumtobel Group we will benefit from a worldwide sales network and from the benefits of a global and group-wide purchasing organisation. In addition, we see technology and development synergies and I will continue to rely on the knowledge, experience and the dedication of our employees for the further development of acdc within the Zumtobel Group. Together, we will continue to dynamically drive forward the acdc brand and strengthen its position in the global lighting market.”