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View Full Version : Cobra to buy Beltronics!!!



<<JAZZY>>
01-23-2007, 08:13 PM
Now that I have your attention. :lol: I ran across this article and was wondering how bad Beltronics would be right now if Cobra had bought them in January of 2000 and how the STi would never have happened.

http://web.archive.org/web/20000711120200/beta.cdad.com/twice/article.cfm?InputKey=1333

Beltronics Buy
by Bob Gerson 06-Jan-2000


In a near repeat of a transaction that made headlines just one year ago, Beltronics has agreed to be acquired by a competing radar detector maker, only this time the buyer is Ohio-based Escort.

At CES last year Cobra Electronics announced it had a tentative deal to purchase Beltronics, but the companies didn't reach a final accord, and talks were terminated.

Both Escort, which was formed in 1997 to acquire the assets of Cincinnati Microwave's detector business, and Beltronics are privately held. The terms of their agreement were not disclosed.

As was the plan with the Cobra deal, Escort says it intends to keep Beltronics' engineering, manufacturing and marketing operations independent and in place, though the two will share technology. Escort plans to install former Beltronics executive Ben Young as Beltronics' chief operating officer and manager of that company's operation in Mississauga, Ontario. Escort president Greg Blair will coordinate the activities of the two companies.

Each of the prospective merger partners has about $25 million in annual sales. In addition, Escort chairman Matt Coleman owns two other companies: ClearLink (Fuzzbuster radar detectors and FRS transceivers, and other products sold under the ClearLink and Connect brands) and Audio Products Inc.

proudNMAmember
01-24-2007, 05:02 PM
That's interesting Jazzy!

CactusMan
01-24-2007, 05:11 PM
I remember getting the original Escort from Cincinnati Microwave and was impressed with the street addess. lol 1 Microwave plaza. Sounded like they meant business which we all know now the Escort spanked everyone.

ScottyBear
02-06-2007, 11:59 PM
Well with Escort buying Beltronics, it must of been a friendly acquistion, I am sure Bel would consider a Cobra buyout a hostile takeover.

Phillip559
04-14-2007, 11:34 PM
lol, lets be glad it never happened.

RadarHell
04-20-2007, 04:34 PM
Actually I beg to differ. If that had ever happened, Cobra would be in the top 3 detector market with Escort still falling on its face.

Reason being, Valentine and Beltronics were always in the top on their Ka warnings while Whistler, Cobra Uniden and Escort were producing near-sighted units. The only thing that Escort had going for them at the time was the X and K band providing adequeate reporting.

Since the merger/absorbing of Beltronics into the Escort Family, Escort has been producing top or near top Ka radar performance.

As for Cobra, you would of had a "13" band or something radar detector on the market knocking on only Valentine's door.

Sparkknocker
04-20-2007, 05:36 PM
Actually I beg to differ. If that had ever happened, Cobra would be in the top 3 detector market with Escort still falling on its face.

Reason being, Valentine and Beltronics were always in the top on their Ka warnings while Whistler, Cobra Uniden and Escort were producing near-sighted units. The only thing that Escort had going for them at the time was the X and K band providing adequeate reporting.

Since the merger/absorbing of Beltronics into the Escort Family, Escort has been producing top or near top Ka radar performance.

As for Cobra, you would of had a "13" band or something radar detector on the market knocking on only Valentine's door.

X2. Nice observation :wink: