RED WING, Minn. — Capital Safety announced its acquisition by the investment firm KKR. KKR has signed an agreement to pay $1.12 billion for the company to Arle Capital Partners, which had owned the company since mid-2007. The transfer is scheduled for Jan. 2012, subject to mandatory regulatory approvals.

Capital Safety manufacturers fall protection equipment under the DBI-SALA™, UNILINE® and PROTECTA® brands. Under its previous owner throughout the past four and a half years, Capital Safety doubled its revenues through a commitment to aggressive research and development, which led to the launch of products such as ExoFit NEX™ and i-Safe™ RFID equipment management system, enhanced its global supply chain and expanded into emerging markets for fall protection equipment. It also successfully executed five strategic acquisitions in Australia, Columbia, France and the U.K. to broaden its offerings for customers worldwide.

“Strong interest in our company is confirmation of our strategic direction and testament to the most experienced team of fall protection experts in the world,” said Anders Pettersson, Capital Safety Group CEO. “Without them, we could nothave countered the global economic stresses and served a record number of customers with a record number of products.” Pettersson adds that KKR’s intent is to continue to strategically invest in Capital Safety’s position as the world leader in supplying fall protection solutions and expects continued expansion for the company, both in terms of products and markets served.

 For more information, visit www.capitalsafety.com.