Braun merging with Canadian company

VW independent/submitted information

Local ambulance maker Braun Industries announced Friday a merger with a Canadian company to create a major player in the ambulance manufacturing industry, as well as create new jobs for the local company.

Demers Ambulances, a Quebec-based leader in the design, manufacturing, and distribution of ambulances in Canada, is merging with Braun, a leader in custom ambulance manufacturing based in Ohio serving customers throughout the U.S. The combination of expertise, trusted leadership, safety-driven products, values and cultures creates a leading player within the evolving specialty vehicle industry.

The terms of the merger were not disclosed.

Demers is a Quebec entrepreneurial success and the oldest continuous ambulance manufacturer in North America, with ambulances in service worldwide. For Demers, this merger helps the company realize its ambition of dramatically increasing its North American market share and competing on a global scale. The merger with Braun creates the second largest ambulance manufacturer in North America and provides greater scale to pursue innovation and international growth.

Braun is a family-owned company that has been manufacturing custom, high-quality ambulances since 1972. With an extensive dealer network, dedicated workforce, and established brand throughout the U.S., Braun delivers hundreds of ambulances each year.

For Braun, the merger provides an increased capacity to drive product enhancements, improve product value, and to better serve more customers across the U.S. network.

“We are very pleased with our progress in strengthening our presence and pursuing growth,” said Alain Brunelle, CEO of Demers Ambulances. “Partnering with Braun provides us the right opportunity to better serve and service our customers, strengthen our employee base, and enhance our capacity to operate and innovate in a competitive, global industry. Together, we look forward to growing the combined company and to meeting the industry’s needs with even better products and service excellence.”

“The timing is right to partner with Demers Ambulances, a company that shares our values, spirit of innovation, and commitment to quality and customers,” said Kim Braun, CEO of Braun. “As the family contemplated many growth plans for a successful future, joining another successful brand that creates value for our workforce and customers was top of mind. With this merger, our employees, customers, and dealers stand to benefit from over 100 years of combined experience.”

Braun said the merger would create a new product line at the local plant and approximately 20 new jobs, including management, welding, electrical, and production workers. The company will be taking applications for the new positions.

Moving forward, Kim Braun will maintain her current leadership positions of the Braun brands and related operations, based in Van Wert. Both companies will retain their own brands, identities, facilities, and employees. The combined company will be led by Alain Brunelle.

The merge was made possible by Clearspring Capital Partners, a Canadian private equity firm focused on growing mid-market companies, who led the transaction alongside Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ), a global, long-term institutional investor.

To learn more about Demers Ambulances, visit www.demers-ambulances.com.