Bacou-Dalloz Changes Name to Sperian Protection

Business Wire, Oct 10, 2007

Leading Manufacturer of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Streamlines Brands for Greater Market Impact, Enhanced Global Growth

SMITHFIELD, R.I. -- As previously announced, Bacou-Dalloz, the leading worldwide manufacturer of personal protective equipment (PPE), has changed its name to Sperian Protection as of August 20, 2007. Bacou-Dalloz was the result of a successful merger in 2001 between Groupe Bacou, founded in 1974, and Christian Dalloz, which began in 1957. Since the merger of these two companies, the Bacou-Dalloz Group has served the protective equipment needs of workers around the globe, and has grown through acquisition and continual product innovation. The introduction of the global Sperian brand is an important milestone in the Company's strategy of continued international expansion and brand building among end-user customers. In addition to a new corporate identity, the Sperian brand will become a unifying identity brand for many of the Company's product categories.

A Renewed Commitment to Global Worker Safety

"Changing our name to Sperian was the next logical step in our growth strategy, as we solidify our position as the global leader in personal protective equipment," said Sperian SVP-MBU Americas, Michael Moorefield. "We bring the best of both worlds to our distributors and end users - combining the entrepreneurial spirit and innovation of the many leading product-development companies we've acquired with the concentrated expertise and unified distribution power of a concise set of brands."

"I am confident that this will help us penetrate high-potential safety markets more efficiently, streamline the portfolio of brands our distributors handle and build name-brand recognition among workers everywhere," continued Moorefield.

New Brand Architecture

Sperian Protection plans to market its products under four brands, including the three leading brands of Uvex[R], Miller[R] and Howard Leight[R]; and Sperian, the new corporate identity which also serves as the umbrella brand and will encompass multiple product lines. The company will transition product names and logo marks over time, so its distributors are minimally impacted. In fact, all product SKU references will remain unchanged throughout the transition.

"This new architecture makes it easier for our distributors to do business with us, and to then represent our full portfolio of products to their end-user customers," said Sperian MBU Americas VP of Marketing, John Montigny. "In addition, as we solidify our position as the reference brand of choice among end users, we can now communicate more effectively, consistently and directly to them."

Uniting Brand Power

Sperian and its strong brands have become the global source for personal protective equipment (PPE). Together with our distributors, we will represent the consumers' brand of choice for highest-quality equipment and unparalleled service.

As the Company's umbrella brand, Sperian products cover the broadest range of PPE needs for men and women working in hazardous situations, providing the most complete solutions in head, fall and body protection. The three leading brands in their respective categories, Uvex, Miller and Howard Leight, will continue to be marketed under their own well-known names.

About Sperian Protection

With nearly 6,000 employees worldwide, Sperian Protection serves the global personal protective equipment (PPE) industry, providing hearing, eye, respiratory, fall, body and hand protection. As a world leader in multiple PPE categories, Sperian is committed to offering innovative products adapted to high-risk environments so that all workers in the manufacturing and services industries can work with confidence. For more information, please visit www.sperianprotection.com.

Sperian Protection is listed on Euronext's Eurolist and on the SBF120. It is eligible for the SRD deferred settlement system.