Founded in 1922 by the Kornblum family, St. Louis Music's products include world-renowned Ampeg bass guitar amplifiers, Crate amplifiers, Crate Audio sound reinforcement equipment, Alvarez guitars and string instruments, and Knilling orchestral string instruments. The company is also one of the largest distributors of music accessories, offering retailers a complete line of branded accessory products.
"This acquisition demonstrates that Sun Capital Partners, our principal shareholder, is committed to the expansion of our portfolio into related markets," commented Loud's CEO Jamie Engen. "St. Louis Music has an impressive and well-respected family of brands that open up a number of significant new opportunities for Loud Technologies."
Engen continued: "Both companies share a strong commitment to our customers and employees, as well as mutual respect for our unique corporate heritage. By combining our collective resources under one corporate umbrella-from technology and manufacturing, to engineering, product development and marketing-we will work together to bring even more innovative new products to our customers."
St. Louis Music's existing CEO Gene Kornblum will remain in his current position and will report directly to Loud Technologies' CEO Jamie Engen.
(Lee Baldock)
